The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[Ein Heldenleben]

On the other hand, that might be better than what was on offer as part of this morning's Breakfast menu,. I awoke to the strains of somebody's 'take' on Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.

Christmas has become an excuse to turn Radio 3 into a version of eighties Radio 2 . Full of slushy Xmas music Have Yourself A Merry etc, , pop music , overblown orchestral arrangements of carols and even the odd Carol . With a few Honourable exceptions (last Sundays all day live performances) it’s absolutely awful.

[underthecountertenor]

On the other hand, that might be better than what was on offer as part of this morning's Breakfast menu,. I awoke to the strains of somebody's 'take' on Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.

…with a crashing segue into John Rutter’s ‘What Sweeter Music’ (and I DO like a dash of Rutter at Christmas, and indeed at other times) in a recording of what to my innocent ear sounded like a slightly above average church choir and turned out to be King’s College Cambridge.

[willietell]

I awoke to the strains of somebody's 'take' on Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'.

That was the point at which I switched the radio off and turned to my own record library. I'm currently listening to Sibelius, whose breathtaking Finnish landscapes are as close to Christmas as I want to be right now

[Pulcinella]

…with a crashing segue into John Rutter’s ‘What Sweeter Music’ (and I DO like a dash of Rutter at Christmas, and indeed at other times) in a recording of what to my innocent ear sounded like a slightly above average church choir and turned out to be King’s College Cambridge.

I'm quite sure that your ear will be better trained to notice jarring clashes of key and style than the producer's, presenter's, or curator's.

[vinteuil]

That was the point at which I switched the radio off and turned to my own record library...

... I was seriously considering as a New Year resolution abandoning Radio 3 entirely, and using my CDs.

And I am now thinking of starting that Resolution now ....

[Ein Heldenleben]

…with a crashing segue into John Rutter’s ‘What Sweeter Music’ (and I DO like a dash of Rutter at Christmas, and indeed at other times) in a recording of what to my innocent ear sounded like a slightly above average church choir and turned out to be King’s College Cambridge.

Radio Segues hardly ever really work . They always jar because of mood, key and tuning issues . Unless they are part of a composition e,g, the thrilling mediant change from E minor to C between movements 2 And 3 of Beethoven’s 4 th PC.
They are used to make the tedious job of slapping on another disc in a radio studio a tad more interesting . They started with pop DJ’s and have now invaded the classical arena sadly

Incidentally in Radio One they always spelt it Segway ….

[willietell]

... I was seriously considering as a New Year resolution abandoning Radio 3 entirely, and using my CDs.

And I am now thinking of starting that Resolution now ....

Looking at the schedules for the next few days I'm now doing exactly the same. The upside is that I'm rediscovering treasures in my own library that I haven't heard for a while - and no trailers for 'Unwind' or 'Ultimate Calm'!

[hmvman]

.. - and no trailers for 'Unwind' or 'Ultimate Calm'!

The only 'unwinding' being done in this house is the springs of my gramophone...

[smittims]

My unfavourite moment this morning was that funereal rendering of 'Have yourself a Merry little Christmas'. The original song was in polka tempo, a brisk two-four, which after all does match the words, but for some odd reason it's acquired the same treatment meted out to 'Nimrod' . Barber's Adagio, etc.

[Ein Heldenleben]

My unfavourite moment this morning was that funereal rendering of 'Have yourself a Merry little Christmas'. The original song was in polka tempo, a brisk two-four, which after all does match the words, but for some odd reason it's acquired the same treatment meted out to 'Nimrod' . Barber's Adagio, etc.

It’s harmonically and rhythmically duffed up by generations of jazzers as well.

Its Judy Garland’s song and should be left alone .

Apparently at Hollywood Xmas parties she’d sing it as a party piece. Now that would be worth hearing,..,

[LMcD]

Looking at the schedules for the next few days I'm now doing exactly the same. The upside is that I'm rediscovering treasures in my own library that I haven't heard for a while - and no trailers for 'Unwind' or 'Ultimate Calm'!

That,s been my policy for some time now.

[LMcD]

It’s harmonically and rhythmically duffed up by generations of jazzers as well.

Its Judy Garland’s song and should be left alone .

Apparently at Hollywood Xmas parties she’d sing it as a party piece. Now that would be worth hearing,..,

... with an honourable mention for Nat King Cole?

[Ein Heldenleben]

... with an honourable mention for Nat King Cole?

Granted . No one in that genre has ever sung as in tune as Nat. His ear was incredible.