The New Schedule

[french frank]

Well, looks to me asif Radio 3 is dumbing down even more! it's fast approaching Classic FM!! (Dare I say?)

All I can say is, looking at the questions guests are supposed to answer, I really hope I'm not invited to be a guest. Most of my answers would be worthy of Paul Dirac: 'No' or 'Why do you want to know?'

The Essential Classics Questionnaire

1 - What was the first piece of classical music you can remember hearing?
2 - What piece first stimulated your interest in classical music
3 - What was the first classical record/CD you bought yourself?
4 - Do you have a favourite performer, and what piece would you choose to hear him/her/them play?
5 - If you could choose to be a virtuoso on any instrument, what would it be, and what piece would you like to play?
6 - Is there a piece you can play, or would like to play yourself?
7 - Do you have a favourite composer – and a favourite piece by him/her?
8 - What piece of music do you use to relax to?
9 - What piece of music makes you glad to be alive?
10 - What piece of music would you listen to on a journey (car/train/plane)?
11 - Is there a piece that you find particularly moving?
12 - Is there a piece that reminds you of a particular place?
13 - Is there a piece that makes you laugh?
14 - Can you work while listening to music, and what piece would you choose, and why?
15 - If you are entertaining friends, is there a particular piece you would put on?
16 - Is there a piece that you think should be more widely known – a hidden gem?
17 - Is there a piece of film or TV music that has particularly affected you?
18 - If you could step back in time to hear a great performer who’s no longer with us, who would it be, and what piece would you choose to hear?
19 - If we gave you an orchestra/choir/soloists, what piece would you choose to conduct?
20 - What piece of music do you want played at your funeral/to be remembered by?

I wonder if the guest will be asked four questions per day - 4 x 5 = 20 (Anna, there's mathematics for you).


Btw: what other questions do you think guests should be asked?

[aeolium]

Btw: what other questions do you think guests should be asked?

Here are a few that spring to mind:

What classical music makes you put your foot to the floor as you race down the motorway oblivious to the sirens behind you?
What classical music would you put on solely to drown the sound of your neighbour's Whitney Houston records?
What essential classics should be played to keep hoodies away from bus-stops and shopping centres?
What is the most appropriate classical music to stave off the effects of the latest financial crisis - what you might call 'Depression Blues'?
What essential classics should be played to Guantanamo detainees?
What essential classic, presenter or radio programme so irritates you that you want to take the nearest hammer and reduce your radio to its component parts, and then bury those parts in the garden so that even its memory will no longer disturb you?

Enough already!

[mangerton]

Btw: what other questions do you think guests should be asked?

Why do you think people should be even remotely interested in your answers?
Have you ever been asked a more banal set of questions? If so, by whom?

[barber olly]

All I can say is, looking at the questions guests are supposed to answer, I really hope I'm not invited to be a guest. Most of my answers would be worthy of Paul Dirac: 'No' or 'Why do you want to know?'

The Essential Classics Questionnaire

1 - What was the first piece of classical music you can remember hearing?
2 - What piece first stimulated your interest in classical music
3 - What was the first classical record/CD you bought yourself?
4 - Do you have a favourite performer, and what piece would you choose to hear him/her/them play?
5 - If you could choose to be a virtuoso on any instrument, what would it be, and what piece would you like to play?
6 - Is there a piece you can play, or would like to play yourself?
7 - Do you have a favourite composer – and a favourite piece by him/her?
8 - What piece of music do you use to relax to?
9 - What piece of music makes you glad to be alive?
10 - What piece of music would you listen to on a journey (car/train/plane)?
11 - Is there a piece that you find particularly moving?
12 - Is there a piece that reminds you of a particular place?
13 - Is there a piece that makes you laugh?
14 - Can you work while listening to music, and what piece would you choose, and why?
15 - If you are entertaining friends, is there a particular piece you would put on?
16 - Is there a piece that you think should be more widely known – a hidden gem?
17 - Is there a piece of film or TV music that has particularly affected you?
18 - If you could step back in time to hear a great performer who’s no longer with us, who would it be, and what piece would you choose to hear?
19 - If we gave you an orchestra/choir/soloists, what piece would you choose to conduct?
20 - What piece of music do you want played at your funeral/to be remembered by?

I wonder if the guest will be asked four questions per day - 4 x 5 = 20 (Anna, there's mathematics for you).


Btw: what other questions do you think guests should be asked?

The next step on the road to CFM2!

Listeners will be sent this questionnaire and it will form the basis of the Essential Classic Breakfast Wall of Shame

[VodkaDilc]

Btw: what other questions do you think guests should be asked?

NONE!! Let's just listen to the music!

I am reminded of once hearing an early controller/executive/producer or something similar from ClassicFM talking at an educational conference I attended. I think his name was Chris(?) Vaisey, but can't be sure. He said that one of the instructions given to early presenters (and I do mean ClassicFM!) was that between music they should just say "You are listening to Classic FM and this is Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata" (or whatever) - with no additional chat.

Perhaps Classic FM didn't always stick to that rule, but if they can see the value of it, surely R3 can!

[VodkaDilc]

A little bit of research has shown me that I should have been referring to Chris Vezey, Head of Programmes at ClassicFM 1991-8.

In fact, he still seems to be interested in developments at R3.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/07/schedule-shake-up-for-bbc-radio-3/

(Comment at the end of the article)

[mercia]

I wonder if Mr du Sautoy's TV/Radio programmes get interrupted by musicians telling him what their favourite sums are, and why.

[french frank]

A little bit of research has shown me that I should have been referring to Chris Vezey, Head of Programmes at ClassicFM 1991-8.

In fact, he still seems to be interested in developments at R3.

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/07/schedule-shake-up-for-bbc-radio-3/

(Comment at the end of the article)

Interesting comment from RW: "The two new additions to our daytime programming will take listeners further on their journey through the world of classical music. "

It depends how far they'd got on their journey in the first place, doesn't it? ['Return to "Go" ']

[barber olly]

I wonder if Mr du Sautoy's TV/Radio programmes get interrupted by musicians telling him what their favourite sums are, and why.

Well I suppose in a way he will be asked for his favourite numbers!

[VodkaDilc]

14 - Can you work while listening to music, and what piece would you choose, and why?

I'm probably in a minority, but I would argue that in this situation you are not LISTENING to the music!

[Roslynmuse]

I'm probably in a minority, but I would argue that in this situation you are not LISTENING to the music!

[Roehre]

I'm probably in a minority, but I would argue that in this situation you are not LISTENING to the music!

To me it sems that Roslynmuse and I belong to that minority too, VodkaDilc

[Serial_Apologist]

To me it sems that Roslynmuse and I belong to that minority too, VodkaDilc

Please, please, exclude me in!

[pilamenon]

The Essential Classics Questionnaire

1 - What was the first piece of classical music you can remember hearing?
2 - What piece first stimulated your interest in classical music
3 - What was the first classical record/CD you bought yourself?
4 - Do you have a favourite performer, and what piece would you choose to hear him/her/them play?
5 - If you could choose to be a virtuoso on any instrument, what would it be, and what piece would you like to play?
6 - Is there a piece you can play, or would like to play yourself?
7 - Do you have a favourite composer – and a favourite piece by him/her?
8 - What piece of music do you use to relax to?
9 - What piece of music makes you glad to be alive?
10 - What piece of music would you listen to on a journey (car/train/plane)?
11 - Is there a piece that you find particularly moving?
12 - Is there a piece that reminds you of a particular place?
13 - Is there a piece that makes you laugh?
14 - Can you work while listening to music, and what piece would you choose, and why?
15 - If you are entertaining friends, is there a particular piece you would put on?
16 - Is there a piece that you think should be more widely known – a hidden gem?
17 - Is there a piece of film or TV music that has particularly affected you?
18 - If you could step back in time to hear a great performer who’s no longer with us, who would it be, and what piece would you choose to hear?
19 - If we gave you an orchestra/choir/soloists, what piece would you choose to conduct?
20 - What piece of music do you want played at your funeral/to be remembered by?

Interesting, though, that most of these questions have been asked and eagerly replied to by contributors on these and the old BBC boards.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Yes because on these boards it's a bit of fun, light relief and message board socialising between members and isn't being rammed down the ears of thousands of listeners. Question 17 is worrying is this a further sign of Classic FM?