Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[french frank]

Hopefully it's a "swansong" - or more of a dead duck.
It looks as if TTN might be returning to its Saturday 6 hour completeness from the 18th May... at least for 4 weeks.

Mahler's Symphony no 6 'The tragic' - what? All of it?

[AuntDaisy]

Mahler's Symphony no 6 'The tragic' - what? All of it?

Followed by Bruckner's "Libera me"

[LMcD]

Mahler's Symphony no 6 'The tragic' - what? All of it?

Yes - 0031 to 0155.

[antongould]

Skellers …… it would seem, sadly, for one day only …..

[french frank]

Mahler's Symphony no 6 'The tragic' - what? All of it?

Me getting Ahl Konfused there - I thought we were back to discussing Essential Classics!

[french frank]

Just very unfortunate. I was resiting my audio array and turned the radio on. Workers' Playtime: Eric Coates, Knightsbridge March. I hastily switched off.

I think I've mentioned this before (vinteuil will indicate the date and time ) that radio presenters should be like sub-editors: only mentioned when they make a mistake. Journalists may curse that their copy has been 'butchered' by a sub, but no one cares unless someone else notices that e.g. Brian Cox (physicist) has been misidentified as Brian Cox (actor). Otherwise you're just doing what you've been paid for and don't expect adulation for doing it. Just pocket the money and go home.

[AuntDaisy]

Skellers …… it would seem, sadly, for one day only …..

Ian Skelly posted these photos on Twitter & look who's replied...

Ian Skelly @Ianskellyradio3
Musical mimicry this morning. As I imitate a guitarist, so a violin mimics a guitar to launch our search for a playlist, all amid my collection of Essential Classics @BBCRadio3 . Join me at 9.30 with a suggestion. If you don’t, I’ll play my guitar… and you won’t want that!
8:56 AM · May 22, 2024

[AuntDaisy]

Couldn't resist cropping that lovely Ian Skelly guitarist photo...
Perfect to accompany the next Sam Jackson "improvement" (unless it's even more Ian Skelly, of course).

[Ein Heldenleben]

Just very unfortunate. I was resiting my audio array and turned the radio on. Workers' Playtime: Eric Coates, Knightsbridge March. I hastily switched off.

I think I've mentioned this before (vinteuil will indicate the date and time ) that radio presenters should be like sub-editors: only mentioned when they make a mistake. Journalists may curse that their copy has been 'butchered' by a sub, but no one cares unless someone else notices that e.g. Brian Cox (physicist) has been misidentified as Brian Cox (actor). Otherwise you're just doing what you've been paid for and don't expect adulation for doing it. Just pocket the money and go home.

Thing is FF sub-editors are down -trodden , underpaid , exploited and hold the paper / News magazine / bulletin together. They are semi -heroic / semi- tragic figures . Whereas (some) presenters…. well don’t get me going,For some of them adulation is what sunlight is to a plant.

[hmvman]

Just very unfortunate. I was resiting my audio array and turned the radio on. Workers' Playtime: Eric Coates, Knightsbridge March. I hastily switched off.

A pedant writes:
Being a fan of Eric Coates I should point out that 'Knightsbridge' (from the 'London Suite') was the theme to 'In Town Tonight'. I think the 'Workers' Playtime' theme was 'Calling All Workers'.

Anorak off...

[LMcD]

A pedant writes:
Being a fan of Eric Coates I should point out that 'Knightsbridge' (from the 'London Suite') was the theme to 'In Town Tonight'. I think the 'Workers' Playtime' theme was 'Calling All Workers'.

Anorak off...

Wasn't 'Calling All Workers' the theme tune for 'Music While You Work'?. 'Workers' Playtime' was a variety show broadcast at lunchtime three times a week from 'a canteen somewhere in Britain'.

[french frank]

Wasn't 'Calling All Workers' the theme tune for 'Music While You Work'?. 'Workers' Playtime' was a variety show broadcast at lunchtime three times a week from 'a canteen somewhere in Britain'.

Sorry to start a controversy by getting the programme title wrong! I don't actually know which programme I meant. On hearing it I felt it was what I would expect to hear on a vintage light entertainment show rather than Radio 3. Of course, by now it is exactly the kind of music I should expect if I switch on randomly between 06.30 and 16.00:.

Three programmes in 9½ hours, and I can choose between Petroc, Georgia and Linton.

[smittims]

L McD is quite right. I remember both programmes . 'Worker's Playtime' was hosted by Ted Ray. It is sometimes confused with 'Have a Go' which was hosted by Wilfred Pickles and his wife , Mabel. I remember the theme song from 'Have a go' but not 'Workers' Playtime'.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sorry to start a controversy by getting the programme title wrong! I don't actually know which programme I meant. On hearing it I felt it was what I would expect to hear on a vintage light entertainment show rather than Radio 3. Of course, by now it is exactly the kind of music I should expect if I switch on randomly between 06.30 and 16.00:.

Three programmes in 9½ hours, and I can choose between Petroc, Georgia and Linton.

I think with Eric Coates you reach the interesting point at which “light “ music becomes something more than that . Some his music e.g. The Dambusters March are , as pieces of music , better than some of the straight forward classical music played on R3 and deserve a playing. By better I mean finer tunes , cleverly constructed harmonic progressions - there’s a lovely cycle of fifths using sevenths in the March for example. If it’s not worthy of R3 why did Sir Adrian Boult bother to record one of the best versions?
Calling All Workers , the theme tune for Music while You work , is also of enormous historic significance - the show being created in the darkest days of 1940 when it looked like we were pretty much losing. It was vital to sustain morale in our industrial plants as the ability to out -produce the Nazis in everything from ball bearings to bombs was key to victory in a total war . It absolutely deserves a place on Radio 3.

[hmvman]

Wasn't 'Calling All Workers' the theme tune for 'Music While You Work'?. 'Workers' Playtime' was a variety show broadcast at lunchtime three times a week from 'a canteen somewhere in Britain'.

Yes, apologies. I remembered later that it was 'Music While You Work' that had 'Calling All Workers' as the theme.

Whether Coates' music is suitable for R3 is a discussion we've had before. Once upon a time it would've had a home on R2 but not anymore.