Tearjerker, Downtown Symphony, Piano Flow, Happy Harmonies and other Saturday padding

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sadly, however hard the producer thinks about each mixtape, it seems wasted on a feature which will be, for the most part, no more than background listening for those who like to listen. Do the listeners really think about the changes from one piece to the next and think: "Wow, that's clever/skilful/creative/subtle/enlightening!"? Love's Labour's Lost.

"Mixtapes in today's music industry are basically a compilation of songs, whereas an album is *typically* a higher quality, more structured story."

"Playlists are deliberate in connotation whereas mixtapes can be made by just some dad recording over a radio broadcast. "

I'm not saying those were accurate definitions - just the way younger people think of them, which is the point I'm making.

You are right I don’t think what a clever segue (despite the recent trail in which producers explain the care that goes into putting the mixtape together ) but I do think the mixtape is a successful piece of programming. It has a variety of interesting, sometimes rarely heard, music. It also features a lot of piano shorts - eg the Alkan etude last week.
My only criticism would be the producers’ obsession with Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone - there are so many other singers they could have like Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan , Lena Horne , Eydie Gormé, George Benson - who never get a look- in . The other problem are the tooth grating key changes between segues . They almost need those improvised modulatory chord sequences that I believe some pianists used to do between pieces in the 1930’s..

[french frank]

what will be next - "Lift muzak memories", "on-hold Vivaldi compo", Beethoven's variations on "your call is important to us"?

They all seem very worthy of a serious PhD thesis which would establish them as worthwhile contemporary additions to the world of music. So yes, very suitable then for the Radio 3 producer mixtape treatment, c. 2023

[AuntDaisy]

Sadly, however hard the producer thinks about each mixtape, it seems wasted on a feature which will be, for the most part, no more than background listening for those who like to listen. Do the listeners really think about the changes from one piece to the next and think: "Wow, that's clever/skilful/creative/subtle/enlightening!"? Love's Labour's Lost.

If listening on a mobile, is there any accompanying text that helps explain? I sometimes listen while washing up, but lack the skills/knowledge to be enlightened.

[cloughie]

You are right I don’t think what a clever segue (despite the recent trail in which producers explain the care that goes into putting the mixtape together ) but I do think the mixtape is a successful piece of programming. It has a variety of interesting, sometimes rarely heard, music. It also features a lot of piano shorts - eg the Alkan etude last week.
My only criticism would be the producers’ obsession with Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone - there are so many other singers they could have like Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan , Lena Horne , Eydie Gormé, George Benson - who never get a look- in . The other problem are the tooth grating key changes between segues . They almost need those improvised modulatory chord sequences that I believe some pianists used to do between pieces in the 1930’s..

I agree with you there Op40 - though - I rate Ella and Nina very highly - then so do I many others - at least 50 come to mind!

[AuntDaisy]

Sadly, however hard the producer thinks about each mixtape, it seems wasted on a feature which will be, for the most part, no more than background listening for those who like to listen. Do the listeners really think about the changes from one piece to the next and think: "Wow, that's clever/skilful/creative/subtle/enlightening!"? Love's Labour's Lost.

Talking of which, I see that Love's Labour's Won has been found... Makes me think of Edmund Crispin.

[hmvman]

.. it is just that I don’t think they use TAPES nowadays, and the final result a Computer playlist!

It's one of those curiosities where old terms have endured. In the world of video, material from cameras and other imaging devices is still referred to using the old film term 'footage' even though it's all digital data and no lengths of physical material are involved.

[underthecountertenor]

That was not my point - I’m not questioning the thought process in compilation it is just that I don’t think they use TAPES nowadays, and the final result a Computer playlist!

Thanks for the clarification - given that all modern dictionary definitions of ‘mixtape’ make it clear that the medium is not limited to tape (as hmvman has pointed out), it didn’t occur to me that this was the point you were making.

[cloughie]

Thanks for the clarification - given that all modern dictionary definitions of ‘mixtape’ make it clear that the medium is not limited to tape (as hmvman has pointed out), it didn’t occur to me that this was the point you were making.

Like LPs used to be called LPs and Albums were something that photographs or stamps went into!

Oh and I suppose Mixtapes had its origin in personal Casette compilations

[french frank]

Talking of which, I see that Love's Labour's Won has been found... Makes me think of Edmund Crispin.

The comment by Dr Will Tosh is very interesting …

[AuntDaisy]

The comment by Dr Will Tosh is very interesting …

I rather liked the introduction by the anagrammatical Prof Sally Idao.

In "Love Lies Bleeding", Edmund Crispin actually gives us fragments of a page - wonderful stuff!

Loves labors wonne
The court of Navarres kinge:
1st gent. And soe you say they are returned hither
2nd gent. Even with the swiftnesse of a fledgling brood
that dazd with novice flite seeks out againe
the boughborne nest, oure gracious lord and Kinge
fleeing Berowne Dumain and Longaville
are soberd home to claim the inviolate pledge
taught to them by the lustie maides of Fraunce
this twelvemonth since.
...

[AuntDaisy]

Here's what we missed yesterday. Available to our European friends via EBU Notturno, e.g. Swedish radio

https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1804325

01:01 Philip Glass; Violin Concerto No 1; Piotr Plawner (violin), Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Michal Klauza
(conductor)
01:27 Benjamin Ipavec; Ciganka Marija (1905); Ana Pusar-Jeric (soprano), Natasa Valant (piano)
01:31 Benjamin Britten; Nocturne for tenor, 7 instruments and string orchestra, Op 60; Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Simon Streatfield (conductor)
01:58 Carl Nielsen; Serenata in vano (FS.68); Kari Kriikku (clarinet), Jonathan Williams (horn), Per Hannisdahl (bassoon), Oystein Sonstad
(cello), Katrine Oigaard (double bass)
02:05 Domenico Pellegrini, Alessandro Piccinini; Courante per la X (Pellegrini); Chiaccona in partite variate (Piccinini)
United Continuo Ensemble
02:11 Mirko Krajci; Four Dances from the ballet 'Don Juan' (2007); Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mirko Krajci (conductor)
02:19 Ludwig van Beethoven; 12 Variations on 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen' for cello and piano, Op 66; Danjulo Ishizaka (cello), Jose Gallardo (piano)
02:29 Charles Villiers Stanford; O living will; BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
02:33 Ralph Vaughan Williams; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles (conductor)
02:49 Camilla de Rossi; Duol sofferto per Amore' (excerpt Sant'Alessio); Martin Oro (counter tenor), Musica Fiorita, Daniela Dolci (director)
02:55 Franz Schubert; Hungarian Melody in B minor, D 817; Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
Info from https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/...ber%202021.pdf

Andrew Slater was right & Tearjerker is new, with a new, but rather elderly*, presenter.
* For the new-style R3

[cloughie]

Here's what we missed yesterday. Available to our European friends via EBU Notturno, e.g. Swedish radio

https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1804325

01:01 Philip Glass; Violin Concerto No 1; Piotr Plawner (violin), Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Michal Klauza
(conductor)
01:27 Benjamin Ipavec; Ciganka Marija (1905); Ana Pusar-Jeric (soprano), Natasa Valant (piano)
01:31 Benjamin Britten; Nocturne for tenor, 7 instruments and string orchestra, Op 60; Benjamin Butterfield (tenor), Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Simon Streatfield (conductor)
01:58 Carl Nielsen; Serenata in vano (FS.68); Kari Kriikku (clarinet), Jonathan Williams (horn), Per Hannisdahl (bassoon), Oystein Sonstad
(cello), Katrine Oigaard (double bass)
02:05 Domenico Pellegrini, Alessandro Piccinini; Courante per la X (Pellegrini); Chiaccona in partite variate (Piccinini)
United Continuo Ensemble
02:11 Mirko Krajci; Four Dances from the ballet 'Don Juan' (2007); Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mirko Krajci (conductor)
02:19 Ludwig van Beethoven; 12 Variations on 'Ein Madchen oder Weibchen' for cello and piano, Op 66; Danjulo Ishizaka (cello), Jose Gallardo (piano)
02:29 Charles Villiers Stanford; O living will; BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
02:33 Ralph Vaughan Williams; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles (conductor)
02:49 Camilla de Rossi; Duol sofferto per Amore' (excerpt Sant'Alessio); Martin Oro (counter tenor), Musica Fiorita, Daniela Dolci (director)
02:55 Franz Schubert; Hungarian Melody in B minor, D 817; Schaghajegh Nosrati (piano)
Info from https://www.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/...ber%202021.pdf

Andrew Slater was right & Tearjerker is new, with a new, but rather elderly*, presenter.
* For the new-style R3

Perhaps they should invite forum members to present their ‘tearjerker’ playlists?

[french frank]

Andrew Slater was right & Tearjerker is new, with a new, but rather elderly*, presenter.
* For the new-style R3

The really sad thing is that he is exactly the right presenter for the latter day Radio 3: "With a string of highly praised releases under his belt and a timeless soulful, jazz, and hip-hop-driven sound, Jordan Rakei, the 29-year-old multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer is a rare talent."

And to show how versatile he is, it comes in 2 volumes, one after the other:

Vol. 1: Calming music for meditation
Tearjerker with Jordan Rakei. Jordan Rakei presents an hour of healing, emotional music. In this first episode Jordan sequences slow moving, peaceful music to meditate to. You can expect pieces from James Blake, Hania Rani, reworkings of Tame Impala and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Vol. 2: Soul soothing instrumentals
Tearjerker with Jordan Rakei. Jordan Rakei presents an hour of his favourite healing, emotional instrumental music from Avicii, Thomas Newman, Four Tet and more.

If it didn't impact on our own listening, we could laugh at it as a new branch of BBC comedy

[AuntDaisy]

Andrew Slater was right & Tearjerker is new, with a new, but rather elderly*, presenter.
* For the new-style R3

The really sad thing is that he is exactly the right presenter for the latter day Radio 3: "With a string of highly praised releases under his belt and a timeless soulful, jazz, and hip-hop-driven sound, Jordan Rakei, the 29-year-old multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer is a rare talent."

And to show how versatile he is, it comes in 2 volumes, one after the other:

Vol. 1: Calming music for meditation
Tearjerker with Jordan Rakei. Jordan Rakei presents an hour of healing, emotional music. In this first episode Jordan sequences slow moving, peaceful music to meditate to. You can expect pieces from James Blake, Hania Rani, reworkings of Tame Impala and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Vol. 2: Soul soothing instrumentals
Tearjerker with Jordan Rakei. Jordan Rakei presents an hour of his favourite healing, emotional instrumental music from Avicii, Thomas Newman, Four Tet and more.

If it didn't impact on our own listening, we could laugh at it as a new branch of BBC comedy

... and a kiwi - a rara avis on R3?

O that Alan Davey could be enclosed in a soundproof room with an endless loop of Tearjerker - to meditate on the continued destruction of R3.

[oddoneout]

Weird image on that link - I assume it isn't a cigarette, just something that looks like one, and the distorted single eye is not pleasant.
What puzzles me more than a little is why these people agree to be on R3 - I would have thought it would be at odds with their profile, and peer/audience credibility, to say the least. I can only assume they ignore the means and just focus on the ends - getting their offerings onto a platform for public distribution.