The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[french frank]

For starters BCs did not feature in the 7am to 9am slot or anywhere else in the schedules until the 1990s when it became commonplace on CFM.

And Essential Classics was the first programme to extend for 3 hours over the entire morning. Look at 1979:
9.00 News
9.05 This Week's Composer (M de Falla)
10 Talking About Music - Antony Hopkins
10.30 Vaughan Williams and Schumann
11 Paul Crossley
11.30 -12 Midday Concert (RLPO Mendelssohn, Symph No 4)

Compare with now:
9-12 Essential Classics with SK or GM

I fail to see the similarity. Also 7-9 contained a complete Moxzart piano concerto and a complete Walton symphony.

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio3/1979-04-02

[Old Grumpy]

Hands, Face, Space...

...Good to hear EST's From Gagarin's Point of View on EC* this morning.

*Yes, yes, I know it's the wrong thread - but everyone else discusses EC on here too...

[cloughie]

And Essential Classics was the first programme to extend for 3 hours over the entire morning. Look at 1979:
9.00 News
9.05 This Week's Composer (M de Falla)
10 Talking About Music - Antony Hopkins
10.30 Vaughan Williams and Schumann
11 Paul Crossley
11.30 -12 Midday Concert (RLPO Mendelssohn, Symph No 4)

Compare with now:
9-12 Essential Classics with SK or GM

I fail to see the similarity. Also 7-9 contained a complete Moxzart piano concerto and a complete Walton symphony.

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio3/1979-04-02

No doubt the genome would confirm or otherwise but I’m almost certain that the complete Daphnis was played one morning in the 70s starting at 7.05 after the News!

[LMcD]

No doubt the genome would confirm or otherwise but I’m almost certain that the complete Daphnis was played one morning in the 70s starting at 7.05 after the News!

I'm not sure whether this was the occasion in question - 0905, 21/6/1972: Suites 1 and 2, BSO Munch - Ravel was the Composer Of the Week.

[kernelbogey]

I assume that Martin Handley, and his producer, are under instructions to include items like Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee, sung by Doris Day, as part of today's 'Sounds of the earth feature'.

It diminshes the programme in my view. And I'm a regular on Sundays (since Saturday Breakfast has deteriorated)!

It's not offensive - it just doesn't belong in a Radio Three broadcast.

[oddoneout]

I assume that Martin Handley, and his producer, are under instructions to include items like Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee, sung by Doris Day, as part of today's 'Sounds of the earth feature'.

It diminshes the programme in my view. And I'm a regular on Sundays (since Saturday Breakfast has deteriorated)!

It's not offensive - it just doesn't belong in a Radio Three broadcast.

If it was random padding with no context I might agree, but as part of the whole Sounds of the Earth(which itself isn't R3 material - it isn't music let alone 'suitable' music) slot, why not? What is so unacceptable about it used that way? Doris Day was a fine singer, admired by many in the "classical" world. The song comes from a musical - but does that automatically make it unsuitable; perhaps so unless it's Bernstein?

[kernelbogey]

If it was random padding with no context I might agree, but as part of the whole Sounds of the Earth(which itself isn't R3 material - it isn't music let alone 'suitable' music) slot, why not? What is so unacceptable about it used that way? Doris Day was a fine singer, admired by many in the "classical" world. The song comes from a musical - but does that automatically make it unsuitable; perhaps so unless it's Bernstein?

On the basis of rather casual listening this morning, the Doris Day (whose voice I did not recognise) jumped out from the other pieces of music in the feature. Generally speaking, the music items used in this feature refer in some way to the natural sounds being broadcast. I fail to see the logic of your argument that it doesn't matter what music is included in that feature, since it doesn't belong on Radio Three at all....

[LMcD]

On the basis of rather casual listening this morning, the Doris Day (whose voice I did not recognise) jumped out from the other pieces of music in the feature. Generally speaking, the music items used in this feature refer in some way to the natural sounds being broadcast. I fail to see the logic of your argument that it doesn't matter what music is included in that feature, since it doesn't belong on Radio Three at all....

Should one be grateful that one didn't get to hear Arthur Askey's bee song? As for Doris Day - I can't be bothered to calculate precisely what percentage of the day's listening her contribution amounted to but I'm guessing it was not that significant, and I found it so forgettable that - well, I've forgotten it. Unfortunately, I've now got the Arthur Askey buzzing in my head.

[french frank]

as part of the whole Sounds of the Earth(which itself isn't R3 material - it isn't music let alone 'suitable' music) slot, why not? What is so unacceptable about it used that way?

Haven't you answered your own question?

Doris Day was a fine singer, admired by many in the "classical" world. The song comes from a musical - but does that automatically make it unsuitable; perhaps so unless it's Bernstein?

DD was my brother's favourite singer when he was c. 16. I heard a lot of her records. I don't dispute that she was a 'fine singer' but qualitatively she was not a classical singer and, as far as I know, didn't sing anything from the classical repertoire. So a non-classical singer singing non-classical repertoire: what on earth is wrong with including the item on 'Radio 3's classical breakfast show'?

'Qualitatively' here doesn't refer to a degree of excellence but of style. Latin qualis = of what kind? what sort of?; quality = characteristic or attribute.

[oddoneout]

On the basis of rather casual listening this morning, the Doris Day (whose voice I did not recognise) jumped out from the other pieces of music in the feature. Generally speaking, the music items used in this feature refer in some way to the natural sounds being broadcast. I fail to see the logic of your argument that it doesn't matter what music is included in that feature, since it doesn't belong on Radio Three at all....

I didn't hear the slot this morning so I don't know how closely the song might be considered to have a connection to the natural sounds recording, but I just think that if the presence of the Sounds of the Earth slot, with its non-music/R3 element, is accepted then I don't see the problem with there being some non R3 fare(however one defines that) in the resulting "mixtape" choices.
It's the wider picture that concerns me more with R3, rather than occasional intrusions of "non R3" material.

[LMcD]

I didn't hear the slot this morning so I don't know how closely the song might be considered to have a connection to the natural sounds recording, but I just think that if the presence of the Sounds of the Earth slot, with its non-music/R3 element, is accepted then I don't see the problem with there being some non R3 fare(however one defines that) in the resulting "mixtape" choices.
It's the wider picture that concerns me more with R3, rather than occasional intrusions of "non R3" material.

You never know - Doris may have made somebody's day!

[Cockney Sparrow]

For years, when possible, Sunday has been waking up to Radio Four between 7.30 and 8, with the news until 8.10. Then switching over to Radio 3, as the offering of some Parish Church is usually not for us... Should it be Elizabeth Alker then silence whilst we get up and organise breakfast. Possibly a CD in the kitchen until Broadcasting House at 9.10. (In this, I intend no disrespect to EA, but as far as I'm concerned she needs to earn her living in a different time/context/channel).

The "sounds of....." slot on Radio 3 at 8.10 (or so) I have come to find trying - purely because I would prefer just music/presenter. Sometimes I put up with it, other times I find the programme on "Sounds" and play the programme from the start on the bedroom sound system (amplifier, dac, contained within the speaker cabinets).

For me "Sounds of....." has become pervasive enough on BBC radio generally (I'm listening on R4 to water slapping in Felixstowe harbour as I write). Its my problem about the timing on Sunday morning, just as I have to arrange avoiding EA on Saturdays. If I am listening, the likes of Doris Day wouldn't be the worst of it for a few moments. Like others here I've given up on Monday-Friday mornings and at least on Sunday a large element of trivialisation is absent and personally, otherwise I very much appreciate Martin Handley's style and contribution.

[kernelbogey]

I don't know how closely the song might be considered to have a connection to the natural sounds recording

There were bee sounds in between the musical items (or vice versa)

...if the presence of the Sounds of the Earth slot, with its non-music/R3 element, is accepted

I can tolerate it in a two hour programme if the music interleaved is classical, or close to it.

It's the wider picture that concerns me more with R3

Yes me too.

[LMcD]

For years, when possible, Sunday has been waking up to Radio Four between 7.30 and 8, with the news until 8.10. Then switching over to Radio 3, as the offering of some Parish Church is usually not for us... Should it be Elizabeth Alker then silence whilst we get up and organise breakfast. Possibly a CD in the kitchen until Broadcasting House at 9.10. (In this, I intend no disrespect to EA, but as far as I'm concerned she needs to earn her living in a different time/context/channel).

The "sounds of....." slot on Radio 3 at 8.10 (or so) I have come to find trying - purely because I would prefer just music/presenter. Sometimes I put up with it, other times I find the programme on "Sounds" and play the programme from the start on the bedroom sound system (amplifier, dac, contained within the speaker cabinets).

For me "Sounds of....." has become pervasive enough on BBC radio generally (I'm listening on R4 to water slapping in Felixstowe harbour as I write). Its my problem about the timing on Sunday morning, just as I have to arrange avoiding EA on Saturdays. If I am listening, the likes of Doris Day wouldn't be the worst of it for a few moments. Like others here I've given up on Monday-Friday mornings and at least on Sunday a large element of trivialisation is absent and personally, otherwise I very much appreciate Martin Handley's style and contribution.

I can pop down the road any time to hear the water slapping in Felixstowe harbour, but I much prefer the sound of the interplay between sea and shingle - so brilliantly portrayed in Britten's Sea Pictures - at the other end of town. The tinkling sound caused by the wind blowing through yacht rigging down at the Ferry is also most pleasant. I hope that the use of 'harbour' doesn't give the wrong impression of Britain's still-expanding biggest container port!

[antongould]

For years, when possible, Sunday has been waking up to Radio Four between 7.30 and 8, with the news until 8.10. Then switching over to Radio 3, as the offering of some Parish Church is usually not for us... Should it be Elizabeth Alker then silence whilst we get up and organise breakfast. Possibly a CD in the kitchen until Broadcasting House at 9.10. (In this, I intend no disrespect to EA, but as far as I'm concerned she needs to earn her living in a different time/context/channel).

The "sounds of....." slot on Radio 3 at 8.10 (or so) I have come to find trying - purely because I would prefer just music/presenter. Sometimes I put up with it, other times I find the programme on "Sounds" and play the programme from the start on the bedroom sound system (amplifier, dac, contained within the speaker cabinets).

For me "Sounds of....." has become pervasive enough on BBC radio generally (I'm listening on R4 to water slapping in Felixstowe harbour as I write). Its my problem about the timing on Sunday morning, just as I have to arrange avoiding EA on Saturdays. If I am listening, the likes of Doris Day wouldn't be the worst of it for a few moments. Like others here I've given up on Monday-Friday mornings and at least on Sunday a large element of trivialisation is absent and personally, otherwise I very much appreciate Martin Handley's style and contribution.

CS unless I missed his application form EA is not a member of the Alkers Fan Club ... probably quite a few million miles away ...... if by some chance you were referring to me then feel free to be as disrespectful as you like .....