Gandhi’s doctrine of non-violent resistance Satyagraha, which changed the discourse of political action in the 20^th century, was based on Hindu and Jain religious teachings, and this week to mark the anniversary of his death we hear sacred music of the Jains along with Philip Glass’s operatic tribute to Gandhi. There’s new music from an old trouper, Leonard Cohen, a Christian/Islamic psalm setting sung by The King’s Singers, and we dip into a massive 73-song compilation of Bob Dylan songs covered by the cream of the world’s musicians to mark Amnesty International’s 50^th anniversary.

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Twelve months ago music, religion and politics collided in Cairo’s Tahrir Square as the Arab Spring protests gathered pace. We meet the man who became the musical voice of the Egyptian uprising, singer Ramy Essam, and hear from the Iraqi Muslim MC Yassin Alsalmin, known as The Narcicyst, who helped write one of the songs of the revolution, #Jan25.

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The strangely moving story of American composer and conductor Eric Whitacre and his virtual choir. Starting in late 2010 more than 2000 singers from 58 countries used webcams to record Whitacre's choral work 'Sleep' and then uploaded their vocal parts onto YouTube, creating the world's largest online choral group. Eric Whitacre tells the story himself at a TED Talks presentation, which you can also download.

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In July 2005, Marshall McLuhan's concept of the global village came vividly to life with a series of 10 benefit concerts held simultaneously around the world known as Live 8 with artists ranging from U2 and Coldplay to Kanye West and the Mahotella Queens. Like Live Aid and the Concert for Bangladesh before it, Live 8 proved that a globalised conscience existed, but McLuhan's prophecy had first come true in 1967 with a satellite TV event chiefly remembered today for the participation of The Beatles.

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