Breakfast: rules for producers and presenters

[rank_and_file]

BoD, the programme is called "Words and Music" and currently runs for 75 minutes on Sunday night. A stimulating and unusual juxtaposition of words and music: recent highlights have included "The Ancient Greeks", the programme starting with Ravel's depiction of sunrise from "Daphnis" and a reading of "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer".

Bax-of-Delights and Panjandrum

I have tried to enjoy “Words and Music”, and, to me, it never really comes off - but tries. Now, you try to get the right visual effects as well, all with good continuity!

I think what they are trying to imitate vaguely, or are inspired by is the 1977 BBC TV film “The Queens Realm” running about 55 minutes which I happen to have recorded on VHS from a BBC 2 repeat many years ago. The tape went round to many cousins to identify 95% of the poets to the poetry, and I was also helped out on some of the music, and by Radio 3, 21 and 23 - list below!

Betjeman Video

MUSIC

1. George Butterworth “The Banks of Green Willow”
(Elegiac and ends wistfully)
2. Shepherds Hay arranged by Percy Grainger (Morris dancing)
3. Tippett - Fantasia Concertante on a theme of Corelli (to Gerard Manley Hopkins poem - in the orchard).
4. Vaughan Williams “The Lark Ascending” (With horse on Downs)
5. Benjamin Britten Pizzicato from “A Simple Symphony” (Steam Tractors)
6. Elgar - Symphony No 1 - At very start of video
7. Elgar - The Serious Doll from the Nursery Suite ( Dolly suite) (Narrow boats)
8. Elgar - Introduction & Allegro for Strings - (Flying Scotsman)
9. Elgar - Opening of Part 3 of Caractacus - Woodland Interlude (Water Mill, Cotswold town to rowing boat - Trentham Gdns?)
10 Britten - “Sunday Morning” or/from Interludes 111 to Act 2 from opera “Peter Grimes”
11 Purcell - Chaconne in G (Castle Howard)
12 Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 2 (London) last movement - Bridge & stream, Mountain top scene, snow - “Sunbeam - be happy”.
13 Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 3 “Pastoral” 2nd mov (bugle calls) - “When I have seen by Times Fell hand defaced etc Will S sonnet etc.
14 William Walton - 1st sec. of Suite No 1 Facade.- Polka (Married quarters
also Butlins)
15 Elgar - Grania and Diarmid (traffic queued and stationary - Wheel me to the garage)
16 Vaughan Williams “Sinfonia Antartica” (no 7) (Lifeboat, fishing boat, seals)
17 Britten - Sinfonia da Requiem (Milton & the satanic furnaces.)
18 Bliss - Colour Symphony (Limestone cliffs etc - Audan)
19 Vaughan Williams Symphony No 8 (Fox hunting scene, falls off - end)
20 Britten - Symphony for Cello & Orchestra (TS Eliot, Tipping ore into sea)
21 Alwyn - Symphony No 5 (Hydriotaphia) end of last movement (snow, walking dog etc. Penultimate piece of music)
22 Vaughan Williams - Job, a masque for dancing: “Pavane of the suns of the Morning” (Larkin’s “Trees” & last piece of music & end of video)
23 Britten - Concerto for Cello (Railway freight-yard)

Lo and behold, quite a bit of it - 70%? - has been posted on YouTube by ta455driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NY-CdkfHhs&NR=1

The visual quality is not that great, but I rather like the comments many people have made. In my view an absolutely wonderful way to mix poetry and classical music and English scenes.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Ditch the news completely.

Well, they could ask us to text in the news we want to hear.

[Janthefan]

I'm happy with the programme going on until 10, I usually listen all the way through.
I would love longer pieces, which would cut down on the inevitable repetition of certain works that fit the time limits.

News bulletins could be hourly as far as I'm concerned, people who want more frequent news can easily access elsewhere.

I'm happy enough with Rob,Sara & Martin Handley at weekends, but there are a couple of other weekend presenters I can't tolerate.(PT & the ex newsreader)Fortunately they rarely present.

This programme gets a lot of stick, but if only the music was played more and less was said it would be perfect for the start of my day.

x Jan x