Lines and Dots

From the windswept deserts of Arrakis to the Republic of Plato and from the riot-inspiring ballet music of Stravinsky through to Mahler's Ressurrection symphony, this week Maurice and Chris tackle those pieces of text and music that reward the dertermined listener. What is it that makes something impenatrable? Why do we feel so delighted when we come to appreciate them? And why on earth am I still using the word 'spandex'?   First recorded on 12th June 2025.

From poetry that meets the needs of business through to a ballet for Barbie, this week's episode explores the intractable pull of the new and the risky - what is it that makes a piece of culture truly new and different? Styling themselves as a breakdancing crew, Maurice and Chris throw down moves to explore the music of Tippet and the extraordinary Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. First recorded on 3rd June 2025. 

The title of this episode should be preceded by a disapproving tut or a disdainful whistling of air through the teeth. Looking at the concept of something becoming outdate or inappropriate in a more modern context, Chris and Maurice consider Nabokov's Lolita, the book of Leviticus, the music of Grease and go on the hunt for a lost cord. All of this while enjoying a reminiscent round or two of the Generation game... didn't they do well?   First recorded on Thursday 22nd May 2025.

Travelling, in at least their own minds, to the village of Upperthong for a spot of Welly Wanging, Chris and Maurice explore the intrac(tor)able influence of the countryside and agriculture on creativity through the ages. From a glorious setting of a tractor catalogue by Milhaud, and an opium-fuelled stroll through the fields with Berlioz to an oddly named memorial by Milton and a bit of post-funereal hanky-panky with Hausmann - its a theme that keeps coming back over and over again!   First recorded on Thursday 15th May 2025. 

Inspired by an intense if typically short British heat wave, Maurice and Chris play some French Cricket as they explore the inspirational power of the Summer. Discussion includes The Pines of Rome, the prescrtiptivism of Tennessee Williams' stage directions, a sonnet by Vivaldi and, of course, a cuckoo. No shins were harmed in the making of this podcast.   First recorded on 7th May 2025.

In this week's (somewhat delayed) episode, Maurice and Chris explore what makes a really good bit of humour. From the genius of Mozart's Musical Joke through to the mischievous Book of Moromon and the magnificently maligning poetry of the Roman poet Martial not to mention the confidence trickster Frank Abagnale Jr.  There is a single profanity in this week's podcast. But it's Classical, so surely that's allowed? First recorded on 1st May 2025.

A tricky topic this week as Maurice and Chris attempt to find a recipe for greatness in the worlds of culture and politics. Exploring 'battlefield experience' with Alexander the Great, longevity, with Handel's Messiah, intelligence and scale of ambition with Tolkien and tact and sensitivity of approach with John Williams - it's clear that there is no one, surefire path! All of this while attempting to demonstrate prowess in that greatest of all sports, Lawn Bowls. First recorded Thursday 27th March 2025.

From Terry Pratchett and Jane Eyre to Bob Dylan and Adele - Maurice and Chris pelaton-spin their way through a smorgasbord of cultural giants that they desperately want to like ... but just don't. It's a question of things having everything they need to be fantastuc and yet, for some reason, not appealing ...  I lied. Chris does not desperately want to like Adele and I have a feeling that comes across..  First Recorded on 27th March 2025

This week, Chris and Maurice take on the difficult challenge of finding pieces of text and music that are so very straightforward one could almost imagine having written them oneself. It soon emerges, however - during an excellent match of noughts and crosses - that such things are hard to find and that such cultural artefacts as a Bach Prelude, a nine-line poem by Frost, haiku poetry and a well-known nursery rhyme are actually fare more brilliant and complex than one would, at first, imagine! First recorded on 13th March 2024.

From the terrifying illustrations of the ladybord books of our youth to the animated features of today, fairytales not only inspire and direct children but also become valuable artefacts of the cultures who created them. Today's discussion looks at the literary works of the Brothers Grimm as well as Hans Christien Anderson and then takes in the extraordinary and evocative musical compositions of Schubert and Delius. First recorded on 27th February 2025.

In keeping with this week's theme, Chris and Maurice meet for an in-person version of the podcast, broadcast from the shed in Maurice's back garden. Exploring the differences between extemporisation and improvisation, the discussion takes in a Jazz score by Miles Davis, some phenomenal organ work, reflections by Wordsworth and Chief Joseph's chilling 'speech of surrender'! There is also a thrilling game of dominos ... First recorded on 21st March 2025.   

Backwards going with obsession humanity's explore Maurice and Chris episode, in this.  From the fugey brilliance of Bach to the experimental music of Paul Simon in Graceland and from clever palindromic poems to the curious case of Benjamin Button we consider what it is about this sort of symmetry that the race seems to find so very satisfying. We forgot about Valentine's day.   First Recorded on 14th February 2025.

With Chris unusually - and, on the basis of this, uniquely - in the driving seat for this episode as Maurice battles a croaky throat, the topic for our synchronised swimmers is 'undervalued'.  This highly subjective topic takes us from Patrick Appleford's 'Living Lord' through to Shirley Jackson's 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by way of obscure biographies of composers and the outer orbits of Holst's Planets - we also consider the difference between undervalued and underrated!   First recorded 6th February 2025.

To celebrate the fact that 24 hours of Lines and Dots are now available for download, Maurice and Chris embark on a terrifying le mans (mainly because Maurice doesn't drive) of culture.   From the extraordinary compositional power of Hindemith and Herodotus' account of the battle of Marathon through to Carol Ann Duffy's 'The Christmas Truce' and that wonderful psychotropic work 'A Day in the Life' by the beatles, we explore the impact of this unit of time on music and words throughout history...   First recorded on 30th January 2025.

Buildings and human designs for them are a remarkable expression of creativity and also share a remarkable creative space with music and literature. In this week's episode, Maurice and Chris explore Xeankis' Metastasis, the writings of Kepler, Solomon's Temple and Chris takes a hatchet to Ed Sheeran's 'Castle on the Hill'. This is all acheived while engaging in some very impressive parkour.   First recorded 23rd of January 2025.

In this episode, Chris and Maurice play a risky game as they consider the power of conflict in creating revolutionary concepts in music and text. From the powerful words of Homer and Oliver Cromwell to contrasting compositions by Berlioz and Britten (not to mention tips for holidaying in Rome) we look at the ways that humanity expresses its response to warfare and loss.   First recorded on 16th January 2025.

To kick off season three, Maurice and Chris explore a poem by Tennyson, two ancient chants - including a performance every bit as live as it is ill-advised - and a column by Mark Twain. Look forward to discussions of naivete, new year's resolutions, the development of polyphany and - as per usual - unnecessary oversharing. Firs recorded on 9th January 2025.

Awash with Christmas spirit - or is that spirits? - Chris and Maurice take a fond stroll down memory lane as they recount their experiences of writing and producing a musical from scratch.  For those keen to see the production, performed at Canford School in 2011 - a version can be found on Christ' YouTube channel... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMYihyAVMZw We couldn't reccomend it to you more heartily!  

Chris and Maurice explore this slightly misunderstood season through the words of Isaiah and John as well as through two well-known Advent Carols.  There is an ill-judged vocal performance by Maurice and much spleen is vented. First recorded on 13th December 2024.

In this festival of bile, Chris and Maurice pick up their swords and do battle over which of them has produced the worst cultural artefacts for discussion. Will Pam Ayres' dentally based poetry win out? Will Handel's Sarabande eat dust? Will Tess of the D'Urbevilles or the musical Six ultimately fall suffer fatal blows? Tune in to find out.   Originally recorded on Thursday 28th November.

Despite continental separation and the trials of fickle technology, Chris and Maurice bring you this episode to celebrate the wonders of extreme contrast. From Top Gear's capricious visit to Magnetic North and the sumptuous glory of Vaughan Williams' Symphony Antarctica through to the contrasts between Athens and Sparta and a piece of music that doesn't seem to please anyone, the discussion takes us on one of our most epic voyages yet.   Oh yes, and the sport is Beach Volleyball - of course.

In this week's episode of Lines and Dots, Chris and Maurice explore the complex world of codes. From the the inventiveness of Caesar's cipher and some acrostic-loving monks to the motifs of Schumann and Shostakovich, the discussion considers humanity's love of hiding things in plain sight. All of this, of course, presented in the mode of an orienteering expedition... First recorded on 5th November 2025.   

A waxing and waning discussion (punctuated by much 'clean and jerk' action) of this extraordinarily powerful feature of the cultural landscape. From impressionistic organ pieces and (yet more) French poetry through to the Norse myths and the vocal stylings of Cat Stevens, Chris and Maurice ponder what it is that makes the moon such a magnet for creativity. Anna Lapwood, if you are out there, please take the call. First recorded on 10th October 2024.

Departing the chalet and heading for the slopes (having stopped off at the ski shop to rent equipment, skill and courage) Chris and Maurice explore the twinned concepts of height and depth in this week's episode. From the very literal heights of the alpine symphony to the metaphorical highs and lows of Gershwin's quest to be taken seriously as a composer - not to mention the poetic endeavours of a first-century, would-be homewrecker - the discussion slaloms its way helplessly through to an ill-advised recreation of a scene from 'The Spy Who Loved Me'.   First recorded on 2nd October 2024.

Battling metaphorical waves and showing metaphorical physical strength, Chris and Maurice swim the channel in this week's maritime themed episode. Covering the music of Debussy, the poetry of Baudelaire and Arnold, not to mention a discussion of the compositions of Hans Zimmer, the discussion looks at melancholy, restlessness and the enigmatic possibilities of the sea. We also name-drop Anna Lapwood for no good reason.

Inspired by all the talk of voyaging in last week's episode, Chris and Maurice take a marathon trek through the concept of the journey. From an exposition of Beethoven's approach to musical form and an analysis of Exodus through to Irish Folk ballads and the utopian universe of Iain M Banks, the road is certainly long... First recorded on 17th September 2024.

Following a week of technical difficulties, Maurice and Chris are back for a new season and this time we are discussing 'revenge' - a dish best served, as it turns out, twice! Looking at Virgil's anything-but-epic ending for the Aeneid, Hamlet's messy approach to retribution and some intriguing numbers from the world of Musical Theatre, the discussion takes in everything from personal passions to the beavers at the foot of the cross. No conkers were harmed in the making of this recording. 

Battling storm-related internet outages, Chris and Maurice survey the bizarre world of absurdity. From sea-cucumbers and musical notation through to an experimental song by Sting and the Police by way of Greek comedy - no stone is left unturned in this parade of the peculiar! First recorded on 19th July 2024.

In Episode 9, Maurice and Chris explore humanity's obsession with Destiny. From the haunting story of Macbeth and the ominious knocking of fate in Beethoven's fifth to the implausible buxsomeness of David Eddings' fantasy writing and the literary genius of Sondheim, the badminton-themed discussion is as out of control as usual. First recorded on 12th July 2024.

In this, the eight episode of the series, Chris and Maurice take a timely look at the relationship between power and influence. Taylor Swift, the emperor Augustus, Whiplash, Mark Hamil - everyone gets a mention! There is even a virtuoso performance on the clarinet.   First recorded on 5th July 2024.

Maurice and Chris explore the concept of Glory and Honour throughout history from Shakespearean Sonnets through the book of Esther and then to a pair of hymns which could not really be more different!   First recorded on 20th June 2024.

In this episode, themed around Nostalgia, Maurice and Chris look at the wistful melancholy of Rachmaninov, the genius of John Williams, the grandeur of Lucan's Pharsalia and the subtle and exquisite beauty of 'The Remains of the Day'. First recorded on 14th June 2024.

Following on from the gloom of death in Episode 4, Maurice and Chris seek out new hope and optimism in this week's broadcast. Considering the construction of hope in Hesiod's account of Pandora, trying to understand Gene Roddenberry's world-view through Star Trek The Next Generation and unpicking the brilliance of Puccini - the stylophone obligato fits right in!   Originally recorded on 7th June 2024.

Chris and Maurice enjoy a brutal dance-off (on an intellectual level) in this week's episode, which takes the theme of 'death'. They consider a haunting sea-shanty, the enduring power of the words and music of settings of the dies irae and a poignant poem by Michael Rosen.   First recorded on 23rd May 2024.

In this episode, Maurice and Chris consider the theme of devition through the lens of Akhenaten's religious fervour, Bach's musical genius, mass singing of a spiritual and Cardinal Newman's poetry. All of this, of course, through a badly applied rugby metaphor.   Originally recorded on 16th May 2024.

Chris and Maurice engage in conversations around the antagonisms that arise in music and literature that looks at the role of the individual against the role of the state. They cover Sophoclean tragedy, Beethoven's love and loathing of Napoleon, Margaret Thatcher's interview for Woman's Own and the subjunctively imperfect music of Sandi Thom.

In this pilot episode, Maurice and Chris discuss musical and literary responses to good and evil, starting out with an extract from Cicero's speech against Catiline, moving through Mozart's Magic Flute, Mussorgsky's witch-based nationalism and ending with lines from John Donne.   Originally recorded on Thursday 2nd May 2024.