Something very odd about R3 website

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  • doversoul1
    Ex Member
    • Dec 2010
    • 7132

    Something very odd about R3 website

    Playlist has been a hopeless mess for almost too long to bother about but I have noticed that there is something else that is very odd about programme descriptions lately.

    Not long ago, an adjective in the description of CPE Bach’s work was deleted later (someone protested on this forum). The Disc of the Week on this Saturday (just gone) had this, which I though very un-Radio3 like:

    Handel at his darkest, and an indisputably great opera, in a thrilling performance from the kind of cast it needs but all too rarely gets.
    This has now been deleted.

    And now, there is this on Tuesday’s evening concert page:

    …which Bach composed for performance in a Leipzig coffee houses, probably with one of his many sons as soloists. Never work with children or animals? Perhaps it's safe if you keep it in the family. Especially if your family is as large and as musical as the Bachs.


    Bach’s sons have never been referred to as ‘many sons’; they are always ‘one of his sons’. I can’t say exactly what difference this makes but it does. But worse, what on earth has working with children and animals got to do with Bach’s music? And what’s all this about family size? And 'the Bachs'?

    Who writes or organises these pages and how do they get to be published on Radio3 website? I bet this paragraph will be deleted soon.

    I tend to scrutinise early music related programmes but is this (deleting later) happening on other programme pages, too?
    Last edited by doversoul1; 26-05-14, 18:22.
  • Pabmusic
    Full Member
    • May 2011
    • 5537

    #2
    Originally posted by doversoul View Post
    ...…which Bach composed for performance in a Leipzig coffee houses, probably with one of his many sons as soloists. Never work with children or animals? Perhaps it's safe if you keep it in the family. Especially if your family is as large and as musical as the Bachs.


    Bach’s sons have never been referred to as ‘many sons’; they are always ‘one of his sons’. I can’t say exactly what difference this makes but it does. But worse, what on earth has working with children and animals got to do with Bach’s music? And what’s all this about family size? And 'Bachs'?...
    Kiddie-book language for an age when someone (who unhappily has clout) thinks Bach needs to be portrayed as a 'regular guy'.

    Comment

    • french frank
      Administrator/Moderator
      • Feb 2007
      • 30301

      #3
      My feeling is (haven't looked at any of these very odd comments) is that the website is managed by someone who probably listens to 6 Music and Radio 1 rather than Radio 3, who doesn't notice the blunders made by the software and adds a few of their own. One of the drops in 'quality' that will be pointed out to the appropriate quarter. They need to appoint a revision sub to check everything, and perhaps they have if things are being corrected.

      And switching to Facebook, someone has posted:

      "Louis Lortie is NOT French. He's Canadian." This is true .... :-)
      It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

      Comment

      • Eine Alpensinfonie
        Host
        • Nov 2010
        • 20570

        #4
        I think ff is probably correct. The same people probably write the sloppy teletext summaries for the BBC.

        Comment

        • Suffolkcoastal
          Full Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 3290

          #5
          As I've mentioned before, if CFM can manage to keep a regularly updated and generally accurate website without much problem, why can't R3?

          Comment

          • Vile Consort
            Full Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 696

            #6
            Perhaps because R3 is "distinctive" and therefore wouldn't want to ape CFM?

            Comment

            • doversoul1
              Ex Member
              • Dec 2010
              • 7132

              #7
              Apologies for the same old grumble but…

              From this week’s CD Review wessite

              Orlando falls in love with Angelica, who is in turn in love with another, and so Orlando is driven to madness, but eventually restored to sanity by the magician Zoroastro.

              …and

              Disc of the Week: We played a short extract of this energetic and thoughtful new recording when it first came out a few weeks ago. This is an opportunity to hear more from this disc.

              We played’ did we? Do these sentences look as if they were written by an educated adult, let alone someone who works in the profession of classical music? I said this before but has the BBC no respect for its listeners? Or is this the level we are supposed to be at?

              Comment

              • MrGongGong
                Full Member
                • Nov 2010
                • 18357

                #8
                Originally posted by doversoul View Post
                We played’ did we? Do these sentences look as if they were written by an educated adult, let alone someone who works in the profession of classical music? I said this before but has the BBC no respect for its listeners?
                What on earth is wrong with that ?
                The "We" is R3 which, last time I looked, wasn't an individual

                (and I DO "work in the profession of classical music" at times )

                Comment

                • french frank
                  Administrator/Moderator
                  • Feb 2007
                  • 30301

                  #9
                  Originally posted by MrGongGong View Post
                  What on earth is wrong with that ?
                  The "We" is R3 which, last time I looked, wasn't an individual
                  It is not grammatically incorrect, and I suspect it's no more than CD Review moving to a more human, personal, cuddly style.

                  Someone stuffy, snobbish and old fashioned like me would, instead of

                  Disc of the Week: We played a short extract of this energetic and thoughtful new recording when it first came out a few weeks ago. This is an opportunity to hear more from this disc.
                  JS Bach
                  Keyboard partitas
                  Igor Levit (piano)
                  write

                  Disc of the Week:
                  JS Bach
                  Keyboard partitas
                  Igor Levit (piano)
                  It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                  Comment

                  • MrGongGong
                    Full Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 18357

                    #10
                    Disc of the Week:
                    JS Bach
                    Keyboard partitas
                    Igor Levit (piano)
                    Which only tells a small part
                    The description of it as an "energetic and thoughtful new recording" would make me more likely to listen.

                    Or is the problem to do with Bach on the piano ?

                    Comment

                    • french frank
                      Administrator/Moderator
                      • Feb 2007
                      • 30301

                      #11
                      Originally posted by MrGongGong View Post
                      Which only tells a small part
                      The description of it as an "energetic and thoughtful new recording" would make me more likely to listen.
                      It wouldn't me. I'd just think 'Who is it who's telling me that?' 'Energetic' seems likely if you know the work, and 'thoughtful' is completely subjective. Lively and intelligent. Bouncy and insightful. Lethargic and clichéd.

                      I realise some people may find it helpful to be told what to expect before they listen.
                      It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                      Comment

                      • MrGongGong
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 18357

                        #12
                        Originally posted by french frank View Post
                        It wouldn't me. I'd just think 'Who is it who's telling me that?' 'Energetic' seems likely if you know the work, and 'thoughtful' is completely subjective. Lively and intelligent. Bouncy and insightful. Lethargic and clichéd.

                        I realise some people may find it helpful to be told what to expect before they listen.
                        Why bother to have anything other than the composer, performer and title of the work then ?

                        It's ALL subjective
                        Depends on who you trust.
                        Many years ago when I was a student Nigel Osborne visited and listened to one of my pieces. He suggested that I listen to several things, which I did, and they were wonderful and inspiring.

                        Comment

                        • MrGongGong
                          Full Member
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 18357

                          #13
                          I hope they still wear suits and ties while broadcasting
                          I saw that Worby chap in a PUB in Huddersfield last year and he wasn't wearing a suit at all
                          This is the slippery slope that will lead to anarchy

                          Comment

                          • ferneyhoughgeliebte
                            Gone fishin'
                            • Sep 2011
                            • 30163

                            #14
                            Originally posted by MrGongGong View Post
                            I saw that Worby chap in a PUB in Huddersfield last year and he wasn't wearing a suit at all
                            This is the slippery slope that will lead to anarchy
                            Sounds like you're building up a Head of Steam, MrGG.
                            [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

                            Comment

                            • MrGongGong
                              Full Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 18357

                              #15
                              Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
                              Sounds like you're building up a Head of Steam, MrGG.
                              Spot on

                              Comment

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