The Nature of Creativity

BBC RADIO 3, 16 SEPTEMBER, 6.45PM

Like many composers, Beethoven was greatly inspired by nature. The second movement of his Pastoral Symphony mimics the sound of a bubbling stream; the opening fanfare to his famous Fifth ( da-da-da daaaaa!) is an imitation of the call of an Ortolan bunting. Indeed, for centuries humanity has woven nature into art, science and culture.. Yetetss incecetthe e 1970s, a staggering hal lf of the mass of wildlife on Earth has b een lost – there are now consider rably fewer songbirds singing alon ng babbling brooks. This thought-t provoking feature for BBCB Radio 3, produced by MaryM Colwell, examines not why such declines are happening, but whethe er our creativity is affected as a result.