BBC Two is to present ‘Howard Goodall’s Story of Music’ in January. Presented by the broadcaster and composer, the series will explore the development of Western music from the Stone Age to the Digital Age in six one-hour programmes, including ‘the influence of classical music on the growth of popular music as well as the evolution of blues, jazz and world music’.

Goodall will present his personal view of musical evolution, eschewing traditional categories of Baroque, Classical and Romantic for chronological ‘ages’: the Age of Discovery, the Age of Invention, the Age of Elegance & Sensibility, the Age of Tragedy, the Age of Rebellion and the Popular Age. Produced by Tiger Aspect, the series will also feature appearances from violinist Nicola Benedetti, singers Noah Stewart, Meeta Raval and Nathan Vale, and the Maria Fidelis Convent School Gospel Choir.

BBC Learning will host extracts from the series online as resources for teachers and schools during 2013, and will also film young people creating their own compositions in response to some of the programme’s key works as part of a Learning Zone special featuring the BBC Philharmonic.
 
Howard Goodall will join BBC Radio 3 presenter Suzy Klein for 'The Story of Music in 50 pieces', to be broadcast on weekdays during Essential Classics and In Tune programmes. These introductions to 50 key musical works will be available as free downloads from the BBC Radio 3 website.