'Slow Radio' and other changes afoot at R3

[Thropplenoggin]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/30/bbc-radio-3-slow-radio-programmes-walkers-boots-chanting-monks

Hmmm. I'd still prefer to have more Discovering Music style features, which R4 seems to do more of than R3 of late (Tom Service's babbling Listening Disservice doesn't count).

I'll be sorry to lose the alternating James Jolly/Jonathan Swain on Sunday mornings, too. I thought they put together well thought out programmes with good variety and intelligent interludes.

[french frank]

Most obvious improvement looks to be The Choir slot. But as always these press releases leave question marks (will Suzy Klein still be sharing In Tune with S Rafferty?). Obviously Essential Classics gets too many listeners to risk major improvement

Quite a bit on short term features of various sorts, not so much on the wholesale schedule overhaul which is surely long overdue?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/bbc-radio-3-season-launch-autumn-winter

[Richard Tarleton]

I'll be sorry to lose the alternating James Jolly/Jonathan Swain on Sunday mornings, too. I thought they put together well thought out programmes with good variety and intelligent interludes.

They did indeed. If it ain't....

And as ff points out, the one thing which really does need sorting, isn't going to be....

[antongould]

.........

I'll be sorry to lose the alternating James Jolly/Jonathan Swain on Sunday mornings, too. I thought they put together well thought out programmes with good variety and intelligent interludes.

I agree with Throppers .... I have gone for a lie down ......

[Lat-Literal]

No mention of world music or jazz music.

Not a lot on the spoken word.

Not sure that Klein is a massive improvement for EC but nor do I think it matters hugely. Walker's delivery is best suited to a Sunday morning. I find both Klein and Rafferty both difficult to place. The former is possibly Edwina Currie and Anna Raeburn. She strikes me as someone who would be a great presenter of "Woman's Hour". Rafferty is clearly a tad Ned Sherrin but he also often reminds me of John Dunn who was a very good R2 presenter with a style the light programme doesn't have now. That teatime show - at the back of my mind I am always wondering about the audience. Is it avid? Who are they? It isn't bad by any means but it seems to exist as a club in its own domain. It confuses me more than I am confused. Derham? Almost a no go area here at one time. Did I ever say I like her as a presenter? I have done now. Mostly, I like the ones with a bit of genuine plum. They seem more authentic.

I also like the slow radio idea.

Scandinavian, essentially, like slow tv and all those detective series from Denmark. Inevitably the European emphasis is here when its identity is wobbling mainly in the Med. And to extend that idea, the rural walking in this instance makes perfect sense in contrast with northern cities which feel equally troubled. Ramblings without Clare Balding and her guests.

In the Lowestoft B and B there was a water feature. I declared it relaxing. It helped me to get to sleep quickly and on the first night I awoke in the early hours not only to it but what sounded like hundreds of gulls near the sink. It was rather wonderful - like being in my own private aviary in some afterlife. All that it lacked was waves and a distant trumpet or violin.

I accept that this might seem tangential. It is and it isn't. it is precisely how Radio 3 Extra should be 24/7 if and when it ever arrives.

[Frances_iom]

I see the early evening COTW is being ditched - it's usually just about the only reliable program on R3 some nights.

but then "Forthcoming programmes include a six-hour broadcast, from 1am to 7am, featuring the voices of people living with dementia interspersed with music." - this sounds like time shifting the existing morning 'presenter led' ramblings - maybe the music will be complete works rather than fragments torn out of the whole.

I see someone likes KD as being more 'authentic' - being more knowledgeable about the 'curated' excerpts might be a valid reason for likeing a R3 presenter but then what is authentic?

[Lat-Literal]

I see the early evening COTW is being ditched - it's usually just about the only reliable program on R3 some nights.

but then "Forthcoming programmes include a six-hour broadcast, from 1am to 7am, featuring the voices of people living with dementia interspersed with music." - this sounds like time shifting the existing morning 'presenter led' ramblings - maybe the music will be complete works rather than fragments torn out of the whole.

I see someone likes KD as being more 'authentic' - being more knowledgeable about the 'curated' excerpts might be a valid reason for likeing a R3 presenter but then what is authentic?

In line with the longer tradition of R3.

When it comes to radio, I'm for everything being in its rightful context - not a huge fan of cross-platform.

KD is not necessarily the best example - there are several on TTN but this is ground we have often walked.

I see the modern broadcasting emphasis on illness is continuing - one accepts it but if I had dementia I wouldn't wish to listen to a programme on dementia.

I'd want programmes that took me away from it especially when musical in content and it is the musical appreciation that often survives everything that goes.

This is not to say that there shouldn't be such a programme but R4 would seem to be a better context for it in my humble opinion.

Something like an extended "The Life Scientific".

[Globaltruth]

No mention of world music or jazz music.

Kraftwerk :goofy:

[Pulcinella]

With In tune starting 30 minutes later, I'm looking forward to longer (and dare one hope more coherent) afternoon programming, but I hope we are given advance notice of what's on offer.
Will Choral Evensong move back to 4pm I wonder? I'm sure that the later start would be appreciated by the participating institutions.

[subcontrabass]

Most obvious improvement looks to be The Choir slot. But as always these press releases leave question marks (will Suzy Klein still be sharing In Tune with S Rafferty?). Obviously Essential Classics gets too many listeners to risk major improvement

Quite a bit on short term features of various sorts, not so much on the wholesale schedule overhaul which is surely long overdue?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/lat...-autumn-winter

Quite a lot more information in the "Press Pack": downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/radio-3-autumn-2017.pdf

e.g. another "Bach at Christmas" season (finishing again BEFORE Christmas )

[french frank]

With In tune starting 30 minutes later, I'm looking forward to longer (and dare one hope more coherent) afternoon programming, but I hope we are given advance notice of what's on offer.
Will Choral Evensong move back to 4pm I wonder? I'm sure that the later start would be appreciated by the participating institutions.

Two good points. I think the afternoons usually do have advanced playlists, don't they?

The original reason In Tune was moved to 4.30pm was because RW wanted to start the (recorded/edited) evening concert at 7pm, so Choral Evensong had to be moved too - nothing more sacred than the Radio 3 schedule. Another question mark which I hadn't thought of.

Composer of the Week (and its repeat) has been all over the place ever since Nicholas Kenyon moved the 9am programme to midday.

[BBMmk2]

I am glad as an organ fan that more is being done. Again nothing for brass and concert bands. When will Radio 3 realise there are a lot of people out there who will listen to a programme of this music. There's a wealth of repertoire to explore.

[french frank]

Quite a lot more information in the "Press Pack": downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/radio-3-autumn-2017.pdf

e.g. another "Bach at Christmas" season (finishing again BEFORE Christmas )

I always forget to look at that. You can see why the press latched on to the 'Slow Radio' and didn't bother with much else …

[french frank]

I am glad as an organ fan that more is being done. Again nothing for brass and concert bands. When will Radio 3 realise there are a lot of people out there who will listen to a programme of this music. There's a wealth of repertoire to explore.

The reality of that is that the more new genres Radio 3 introduces, the less core classical music there will be as once the genre's 'popularity' is established it won't get dropped (e.g. Late Junction). With five other BBC radio music stations, it's hardly reasonable to try and include everything that's musically worthwhile on Radio 3. This is the full blurb on Choir and Organ:

This Autumn will see the advent of a brand new concept in Radio 3 programme making. Sundays are traditionally a day of rest and reflection, and a brand new programme Choir and Organ, will pick up on the pure musical joy of choral and organ music. It is the first time Radio 3 has had a dedicated slot for organ music in a weekly show. In each programme, Sara Mohr-Pietsch will present an extensive range of choral or organ music. To complement the on-air show, additional supporting material will be created for specialist listeners or for those who want to dig deeper; this will include interviews, features and will build each week to develop an ongoing library of information, all available online. Information relevant to the music in the programmes on air will also be posted, and will build a tremendous resource for beginners and choral and organ scholars alike.

[oddoneout]

e.g. another "Bach at Christmas" season (finishing again BEFORE Christmas )

So Bach at Advent then....(or The Advent of Bach?)
The inevitable result of a secular society I suppose.