The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[Serial_Apologist]

“Radio 3 Breakfast is largely speech nowadays, the wittering, texting, tweeting, emailing, simpering, giggling, gasping all taking precedence over the music. “

This was posted on another thread a while back and I remember thinking at the time that I hadn’t noticed much if any difference in the amount of speech recently.

So I did one of my analysis exercises that I used to do at the request of ff in bygone years. I did the analysis on the Breakfast programme of 11 July 2019 presented by the Gasper.

I then compared the overall findings with the last exercise undertaken in September 2017.



Music 2019 131 minutes 25 seconds
Music 2017 127 minutes 20 seconds

Trailers etc. 2019 7 minutes 17 seconds
Trailers etc. 2017 10 minutes 17 seconds

News and Weather 2019 11 minutes 26 seconds
News and Weather 2017 11 minutes 25 seconds

Pieces played 2019 21
Pieces played 2017 23

I think a bit like climate change, (when is it "climate", and when is it "just weather"?) a longer overview is probably needed for purposes of comparison.

[Kernow Malc]

I am sick to the back teeth with the trailers on Radio 3. They are turning up all over the place - its like having a cheap-jack in a cathedral.

[antongould]

I think a bit like climate change, (when is it "climate", and when is it "just weather"?) a longer overview is probably needed for purposes of comparison.

Feel free to produce one S_A ..........

[Serial_Apologist]

Feel free to produce one S_A ..........

How could I possibly refuse, when there are so many less interesting things to do???

[Ian_of_glos]

Sadly I have to agree, and I have not been able to listen to R3 on weekday mornings for many years now. The pieces that are played in the breakfast programme have always been short and fairly light in mood, even if we go back 20 years or more. However, once upon a time they did play complete works rather than single movements, and there weren't the inane comments from Doris of Weston Super Mare who "particularly likes this piece of music because she first heard it when she was clipping her toe nails in 1957"
Radio 3 has a duty to inform, and I would rather hear some information about the music, or the composer, or the performer - anything that would help me to learn more about what I am hearing.

[kernelbogey]

Petroc mentioned hearing that another BBC station starts up with an air raid siren - and wondered what Radio Three might do.

I think a fanfare would be good - plenty of scope to change which one from month to month.

My starter for ten is the opening bars of Janacek's Sinfonietta.

Any other suggestions?

Wondering if I should have posted this here - but I started a separate thread.

[underthecountertenor]

Sadly I have to agree, and I have not been able to listen to R3 on weekday mornings for many years now. The pieces that are played in the breakfast programme have always been short and fairly light in mood, even if we go back 20 years or more. However, once upon a time they did play complete works rather than single movements, and there weren't the inane comments from Doris of Weston Super Mare who "particularly likes this piece of music because she first heard it when she was clipping her toe nails in 1957"
Radio 3 has a duty to inform, and I would rather hear some information about the music, or the composer, or the performer - anything that would help me to learn more about what I am hearing.

If you haven't listened for on weekday mornings for many years now, might I suggest that you have another go? The range of music played is greater than it was a few years ago, and 'inane comments' have very much been cut back in favour of information about the music, composer or performer.

[antongould]

If you haven't listened for on weekday mornings for many years now, might I suggest that you have another go? The range of music played is greater than it was a few years ago, and 'inane comments' have very much been cut back in favour of information about the music, composer or performer.

Very true IMVVHO unders ...........

[Ian_of_glos]

If you haven't listened for on weekday mornings for many years now, might I suggest that you have another go? The range of music played is greater than it was a few years ago, and 'inane comments' have very much been cut back in favour of information about the music, composer or performer.

I do try from time to time, especially if I am driving but so far nothing has convinced me that I want to listen regularly. There is no harm in trying again although I do feel that they are still trying to compete with Classic FM rather than offering something distinctive.

[kernelbogey]

If you haven't listened for on weekday mornings for many years now, might I suggest that you have another go? The range of music played is greater than it was a few years ago, and 'inane comments' have very much been cut back in favour of information about the music, composer or performer.

Yes, I've been very pleasantly surprised to come back to Breakfast recently. The above is a fair comment. I've warmed considertably to Petroc lately.

[LMcD]

Yes, I've been very pleasantly surprised to come back to Breakfast recently. The above is a fair comment. I've warmed considertably to Petroc lately.

Same here!

[underthecountertenor]

I do try from time to time, especially if I am driving but so far nothing has convinced me that I want to listen regularly. There is no harm in trying again although I do feel that they are still trying to compete with Classic FM rather than offering something distinctive.

Today’s selection is very distinctive, and is pretty typical in my recent experience.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It is indeed slightly less bad than it was. Or have we become so accustomed to the programme’s sink level, that the perpetrators have succeeded in assimilating us into the Borg, accepting constant texts/tweets/emails from people who care more about having their name read out than they do about the music (or other listeners)?

[LMcD]

It is indeed slightly less bad than it was. Or have we become so accustomed to the programme’s sink level, that the perpetrators have succeeded in assimilating us into the Borg, accepting constant texts/tweets/emails from people who care more about having their name read out than they do about the music (or other listeners)?

Not as bad as the performance of the Richard Strauss symphony the other day?
IMVHO the current format and content of 'Breakfast' are ideally suited to the needs of many listeners between 0630 and 0900. (If only what follows suited the needs of those with more time for more substantial fare ….)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

IMVHO the current format and content of 'Breakfast' are ideally suited to the needs of many listeners between 0630 and 0900. (If only what follows suited the needs of those with more time for more substantial fare ….)

Inane unpunctuated chit-chat is the last thing that inspires one, having just woken up, which is why the former Morning Concert was so good.