On the positive side

[Guest]

What a lovely day for music. I'm afraid i cant pretend to know what all the pieces were called but we had a wonderfully gentle start to the day; some engaging pieces in the afternoon, around which time a Bach cello piece was played; and we were treated at teatime to some Iranian oud, and later a vintage recording of John Barleycorn Must Die.

A perfectly palatable day peppered with surprises.

I would also like to register my desire to hear more non-western classical music, particularly from India and the middle-east. I also dont see traditional folk music as being outside of (what i see as) the remit of R3. And vintage recordings of any kind have always appealed to me.

I have always loved, indeed supported, R3 for its good taste and wide-ranging eclecticism. Well done.

[antongould]

Yes I often feel, as a man demented and alone, that this forum doesn't always give credit where credit is due! I have just listened to Breakfast and found it a very pleasant start to the day. Alright we had the bleedin' Skaters waltzing and a movement of the Pastoral but we also had some Rameau obviously inspired by the latest AA puzzle! Yes there were texts but suggesting "nice" early morning pieces of JSB.

[old khayyam]

To elaborate a little, i do remember hearing some 'popular classics' throughout yesterday, but somehow they didnt register with me. I think, as it stands, the percentage of playlist that is 'popular' must be no more than 10% of weekdaytime, which is perhaps not... too... bad...

Actually, its quite a lot isnt it? And it represents a worrying trend. And today has been dreadful so far - marching tunes, American tunes, American marching tunes, and a medley of nursery rhymes...

But i'm trying to be positive. Its still mostly good.

[Serial_Apologist]

To elaborate a little, i do remember hearing some 'popular classics' throughout yesterday, but somehow they didnt register with me. I think, as it stands, the percentage of playlist that is 'popular' must be no more than 10% of weekdaytime, which is perhaps not... too... bad...

Actually, its quite a lot isnt it? And it represents a worrying trend. And today has been dreadful so far - marching tunes, American tunes, American marching tunes, and a medley of nursery rhymes...

But i'm trying to be positive. Its still mostly good.

Ah, but you're referrring us to the Lite Music on COTW - the genre that literally serenaded all of us 60-somethings from postwar austerity into the consumer society, old khayyam, courtesy the taxpayer (viz the BBC) and Marshall Aid. Much of that stuff filled my childhood head with tunes, until the fact that they were tunes nothing was ever done with moved me onto something with a bit more substance.

S-A

[old khayyam]

It seems that positive comments (or at least my personal tastes) are out of place here.

May i say that, should anyone in an influential position be reading this site, we will recieve little sympathy for providing several threads lasting several years consisting entirely of whinges, moans, and groans. They would be forgiven for thinking there is nothing that would make us happy.

I am also aware, however, that this forum does not constitute a campaign, and is simply a place to let off steam. So be it.

[vinteuil]

Old Khayyam -

if we are unhappy at the dross which is served up to us, shd we stifle our unhappiness and remain silent?
Or shd we remain silent abt all that we think is wrong, but offer a few timid morsels of 'praise' for the bits that are still all right?

[french frank]

Old Khayyam -

if we are unhappy at the dross which is served up to us, shd we stifle our unhappiness and remain silent?
Or shd we remain silent abt all that we think is wrong, but offer a few timid morsels of 'praise' for the bits that are still all right?

One solution would be to allow the 'positive' threads to express positive comments only. Though perhaps old khayyam's Msg #3 rather falls foul of that ...

[Serial_Apologist]

One solution would be to allow the 'positive' threads to express positive comments only. Though perhaps old khayyam's Msg #3 rather falls foul of that ...

I was not being negative......... I'm positive about that.

[old khayyam]

Last night (July 3rd) around 11pm - absolutely beautiful music, mostly traditional English folk. Perfect late night listening. Top marks there.


This morning however, the Star Wars theme at 08:30 was a very rude awakening and the complete antithesis of everything i expect from R3.

They are, of course, expecting people to pipe up with supportive comments such as 'its quite good actually' and 'reminiscent of Holst's The Planets', and 'John Williams is actually a serious composer', etc..

[maestro267]

It seems that positive comments (or at least my personal tastes) are out of place here.

Too true. I would say more, but I'm certain those comments wouldn't be welcome here.

[Crowcatcher]

I agree with you Old Khayyam, my radio ventures from R3 only for the 6pm news, comedy and science on R4, and England and Worcester cricket.
Without R3 the world be a much lesser place. Of course there a re a few winges, but they are very minor.
My youngest daughter is also an avid R3 listener; I was discussing certain aspects of it with her yesterday and pointed out that I had listened from 06:30 to 12:30 and enjoyed every moment - even the repetition of a certain piece played only a few weeks ago.
I would like to emphasise that I have been listening since the very birth of the Third Programme in 1949 (?) and feel that its recently more relaxed approach to presentation is an asset.

[old khayyam]

Good to hear it, CW. Though i'm not that much a fan of the 'relaxed presentation'.

Following what you've said, I tend to stray from R3 quite frequently. For instance, if i turn on in the morning and dont instantly hear gentle, beautiful music - off it goes. More likely, i run to R3 whenever the Americans turn up on R4!

Remaining positive, however, even the dreariest of symphonies get my vote, as long as they are played in their entirety. Does R3 still play entire symphonies? In the 90s i remember hearing long, bleak, avant-garde pieces that filled entire afternoons, or so it seemed. And as mentioned, we are still getting quite an eclectic mix in the evenings now.

[Norfolk Born]

Wasn't there a complete Haydn symphony in this morning's 'Classical Collection'?

[Suffolkcoastal]

There has been a decline in complete broadcasts of symphonies on R3 in the last 3-4 years. I've been monitoring the number of symphonies broadcast by each composer so far this year and it already makes interesting reading. By far the highest numbers are symphonies by Mozart & Haydn (& I'm not counting the complete Mozart symphonies played in that silly Mozartathon either!).

[old khayyam]

There has been a decline in complete broadcasts of symphonies on R3 in the last 3-4 years

I suspected as much; long programming isn't exactly presenter-friendly is it? But still, this is supposed to be the positive thread (where we celebrate the moments when ill-informed presenters are not speaking :)