R3 Soundscapes from [Soundscape of a Century]

[ardcarp]

I thought I'd spread this out between

[eighthobstruction]

....what, between....here /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////and here

[smittims]

Tomorrow Radio 3 does one of its all-day listen-a-thons: 'Soundscapes from a Century'. They've warned us in advance that it's not meant to be a detailed history, and the words 'evocative' and 'culture' suggest to me that it's going to be bitty and chatty rather than seriously informative. A brief list of what we can hear is on the R3 schedule. I suspect it's more for younger people who don't know much about the 20th century or the BBC, than old fogies like me who've seen all too much of it...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As usual, we’ve no idea what music is to be played, so it’s only suitable for people with infinite time on their hands, or for those who simply like background music and chitchat.

[Bryn]

As usual, we’ve no idea what music is to be played, so it’s only suitable for people with infinite time on their hands, or for those who simply like background music and chitchat.

Or wait until after the broadcast, then pick and choose from BBC Sounds when, hopefully, details will have been posted.

[oddoneout]

I've just been looking at the schedule and all that's listed is lots of talk items so any music is going to be limited as far as I can see.

people with infinite time on their hands, or for those who simply like background music and chitchat.

I think there might also be an element of dropping into sections which are of interest as it's divided up by decade. Talk radio has never been my thing, even when my problems with deciphering speech weren't so acute, so I don't think I'll be listening.

[kernelbogey]

I heard bits of the eleven Soundscape of a Century episodes yesterday while doing other things (e.g. driving) but the format required more attention than that provided; so I shall try and listen to at least one episode with better attention.

The intention seemed to be to evoke a particular decade with a mixture of sound reportage and relevant music - so that it was about lived history rather than about music.

I've amended the thread title to make the subject, I hope, clearer.

[gurnemanz]

As usual, we’ve no idea what music is to be played, so it’s only suitable for people with infinite time on their hands, or for those who simply like background music and chitchat.

"As usual" doesn't really apply since this was a one-off.

It can't have been aimed at "people who like chit-chat", because there was no chit-chat, only chronological snippets from the BBC archive, which I assume was the whole point.

The title of the music was not pre- or post-announced. This would have been pointlessly intrusive. A lot of it was familiar and the current music playing was available via DAB text or internet stream.

I don't have "infinite time on my hands" but still found it to be a worthwhile and interesting enough experience to tune in for short periods at various times throughout the day. Even if I were one of those "people with infinite time" I cannot imagine that I would have listened to the whole show from beginning to end.

I am not a person who "simply likes background music" and cannot imagine that it was "only suitable" for such human beings, but I still managed to enjoy it for what it was, when I turned in. The music was obviously intended mainly as background or a musical backdrop to invoke the mood of the time. If I'd wanted Bruckner 8 or Parsifal in its entirety I would have played a CD.

[DracoM]

Moment that literally brought tears to the eyes: Berlin Wall coming down, Beethoven's Ninth - great triumphant moment + German reunification......and then........my realisation that, 50 years later, the UK votes for exit from EU.

How the heck could we / were we / dare we have been so blinded to the inevitable consequences?

Sat for an hor in a deeper gloom than anything in pandemic/Truss etc..............so, UK, where next?

[Sir Velo]

Moment that literally brought tears to the eyes: Berlin Wall coming down, Beethoven's Ninth - great triumphant moment + German reunification......and then........my realisation that, 50 years later, the UK votes for exit from EU.

Make that fewer than 30 years and the tragedy is even more poignant.

[DracoM]

Mis-typed - sorry!

[ardcarp]

Mrs A and I listened (determined not to pre-judge anything) from the start almost to the end when other pressing matters had to be attended to....such as eating and drinking. We found it a really wonderful experience and were impressed at how the creators of this unique experience had managed to assemble together this mixture of recent history, world events and other stuff, but keep it weighted towards thinking R3 listeners. I personally was quite moved at the times relating to my childhood and early adulthood. Well done Radio 3.

I could have done without the hourly inputs from current presenters. Also the playlist (which we watched throughout) was often a bit slow updating itself. But as most things were well-known, it didn't really matter. For music lovers who were perhaps not up-to-date with with late 20th/early21st century trends in music, it was a good way of introducing it. Especially glad Caroline Shaw got a look-in!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I seem to be the grumpy one here, coloured somewhat by hearing an announcer talking over the opening bars of the slow movement of a Shostakovich Piano Concerto.

[smittims]

Well, I too wondered if all the hard work, which it must have involved assembling it, was worth it, and if it was worth seven hours . Maybe it just wasn't for me; maybe it was a valuable education for others, what do I know?

I didn't hear 'the greatest classical music, ' as promised, though .

[ardcarp]

I did wonder if the idea would suit everyone. I was prepared to sit back and be immersed in it...lucky to have the spare time.....and the experience was for me and Mrs A a significant one....and I choose that word 'significant' with care. Maybe 'affecting' would be better, but I don't want to overdo it!