Inside Music

[ardcarp]

Inside Music is a Saturday afternoon 'playlist' slot that I wouldn't usually listen to. But while decorating a room, hey, why not? At least half of Nadia Sirota's choices would fall into the Hear and Now category...and I really enjoyed the whole programme. (One just has to accept that self-effacement isn't a US national characteristic!) I was especially diverted...oh dear, paint on the floor....by a movement from Berio's Sinfonia, and ditto from Caroline Shaw's Partita for 8 voices.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001wlc

[LMcD]

Inside Music is a Saturday afternoon 'playlist' slot that I wouldn't usually listen to. But while decorating a room, hey, why not? At least half of Nadia Sirota's choices would fall into the Hear and Now category...and I really enjoyed the whole programme. (One just has to accept that self-effacement isn't a US national characteristic!) I was especially diverted...oh dear, paint on the floor....by a movement from Berio's Sinfonia, and ditto from Caroline Shaw's Partita for 8 voices.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001wlc

I might have enjoyed it more if she hadn't gabbled quite so much - and yes, it does matter, at least to me!

[ardcarp]

Inside Music

Did anyone listen to Esfahani presenting today's programme? I thoroughly enjoyed an eclectic mix of music, plus his relaxed and lightly humorous presenting style.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pw0f

[vinteuil]

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I did.

Sadly I find his presenting style immensely irritating : he seems prodigiously pleased with himself.


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[french frank]

Much tempted to embark on a research project as 'relaxed and lightly humorous presenting style' suits my temperarament, but if it fails to hit the right note with me, I shall find it 'immensely irritating'.

I tend to kick against a selection that doesn't go beyond 'someone else's favourites', on the whole preferring my own choices and exploration. I may listen, I may not. I may have a bath.

[Bryn]

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I did.

Sadly I find his presenting style immensely irritating : he seems prodigiously pleased with himself.


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And has something of a reputation as an Internet flamer.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Although I enjoyed what he had to say and his music selection I found his overly correct way of pronouncing foreign words a tad irritating . His attempts at Bach , though no doubt correct reminded me of the Welsh pronunciation of the same word or , for those with long memories Joyce Grenfell’s parody take on Johann Sebastian Bacchhh on Face The Music....

[french frank]

Although I enjoyed what he had to say and his music selection I found his overly correct way of pronouncing foreign words a tad irritating . His attempts at Bach , though no doubt correct reminded me of the Welsh pronunciation of the same word or , for those with long memories Joyce Grenfell’s parody take on Johann Sebastian Bacchhh on Face The Music....

I listened to most of it, though I did go out to get some supper in the middle and missed the Dufay which I should have enjoyed. I didn't find his presentation irritating and what he said was to the point. But I can't engage with this same-old-same-old format of Person Introducing Varied Selection of shortish pieces/extracts with the odd bit of jazz and world thrown in. At least he didn't feel compelled to add a piece of 'classic pop' from his (middle) youth. (I like to think he was asked to but refused.)

His 'overly correct' pronunciation of foreign words is typical of (many) American musicians, I think. The Schoenberg piano piece was interesting. As also was the Iranian piece, though I didn't like it.

Oh, yes, and I was going to complain that he wittered on about the Elliott Carter Double Concerto but then went straight into the Brahms. But he did play 2 minutes of the Carter but it was left off the playlist.

[ardcarp]

I seem to be I was the only one pleased! I liked his selections and found his easy manner something of a relief after two doses of Tom Service. The latter is incredibly knowledgeable and well-informed, but always seems in such a rush that words come out helter-skelter...usually at least ten where a couple would suffice.

[french frank]

I seem to be I was the only one pleased! I liked his selections and found his easy manner something of a relief after two doses of Tom Service. The latter is incredibly knowledgeable and well-informed, but always seems in such a rush that words come out helter-skelter...usually at least ten where a couple would suffice.

My main complaint is that the programme itself doesn't do what it says on the tin. With 13 different pieces to play and comment on, no one is going to penetrate very far 'inside' the music. When the new programme was announced, I thought it was going to be a new version of Discovering Music. Having distinguished musicians on to say a few words about their choices of music seems a waste of talent. 'Knowing' him, as I think others here do, as a sometimes, erm, outspoken … contributor to The Society for the Promotion of Correct Pronunciation on Radio 3, I was fearing that he might come over as an overly opinionated presenter, but I didn't find him so (though I did mean to go back and check up where he placed the stress, first time, on Nikolayeva ).

[Bryn]

My main complaint is that the programme itself doesn't do what it says on the tin. With 13 different pieces to play and comment on, no one is going to penetrate very far 'inside' the music. When the new programme was announced, I thought it was going to be a new version of Discovering Music. Having distinguished musicians on to say a few words about their choices of music seems a waste of talent. 'Knowing' him, as I think others here do, as a sometimes, erm, outspoken … contributor to The Society for the Promotion of Correct Pronunciation on Radio 3, I was fearing that he might come over as an overly opinionated presenter, but I didn't find him so (though I did mean to go back and check up where he placed the stress, first time, on Nikolayeva ).

I find myself listening quite casually to the programme. My interpretation of the title is somewhat different from Frenchie's. To me, it refers to the musician featured being "inside music" and their choices serving the purpose of indicating their musical psyche. It's 'growing on me'.

[kernelbogey]

I...found his easy manner something of a relief after two doses of Tom Service.

The contrast between them was perfectly displayed about five years ago when TS and ME jointly introduced the latter playing the Goldberg Variations in Bristol. ME's lucid and witty explanation of some of the structural aspects of the work sharply contrasted with the well-known TS characteristics....

[french frank]

I find myself listening quite casually to the programme. My interpretation of the title is somewhat different from Frenchie's. To me, it refers to the musician featured being "inside music" and their choices serving the purpose of indicating their musical psyche. It's 'growing on me'.

And that's absolutely fine. Just as with any programme you care to name, there's an audience who wants exactly what's being offered. The fault, dear Bryn's not in our host, but in myself. I'd prefer to hear more about the music, not the musician's psyche. But that isn't a criticism of the presenter. Just - for me (I emphasise) - not a programme I shall tune in to on the off chance it's focused on something more musically substantial, more profoundly music-based. I fully accept that isn't what Radio 3 ever intended to give.

[eighthobstruction]

....usually a enjoyable programme - which is to me quite simply a professional musician playing some music that inspires or motivates them. Mahan Esfahani was particularly unctious opinionated in an almost stupidly humourous way and for once (ref Inside Music) it was of absolutely of no interest to me at all....

[french frank]

....usually a enjoyable programme - which is to me quite simply a professional musician playing some music that inspires or motivates them. Mahan Esfahani was particularly unctious opinionated in an almost stupidly humourous way and for once (ref Inside Music) it was of absolutely of no interest to me at all....

Isn't that strange? For one rare occasion I felt the exact opposite from eighth. Presenter unexceptionable, musical selection (as a unit) of little interest, though the Kirkpatrick Scarlatti, the Schoenberg, the Iranian piece and Nikolayeva's performance were interesting - but I have better things to do with two hours. Speaking as a near vegetarian, I want more beef. Figurative sense only. I don't hold the presenter responsible for my dissatisfaction.