The way forward for Radio 3 and Sunday Mornings?

[french frank]

Can we keep this thread on topic (yes, I know it's not usual, but it will be easier for Laura to pick up answers to her queries if we keep to our opinions on the Sunday Morning programme).

[Diverted posts on On Playlists and Purchases (playlist programmes board].

[amcluesent]

From 7am to 12noon, the Sunday broadcast should follow the 'Through the Night' approach of minimal blethering, in fact there would be no problem in having no announcements for 60+ mins at a time.

Breakdown the time as

7-8am Organ, viols, medieval music etc
8am-10:30am - Baroque and early classical works, emphasis on Bach family
10:30am-11am - church service, likely live relay from Lutheran churches across Europe, no happy-clappy, no RC
11am-12noon - classical/neo-classical, string Q, Haydn symphonies etc.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

likely live relay from Lutheran churches across Europe, no happy-clappy, no RC

I think you might want to make clear that you mean "Rob Cowen", here, amclu!


... if, of course, you do!

[Norfolk Born]

..so Rob Cowan would be OK then!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yas!

[PatrickMargison]

I’m new to this Forum (though not to Radio 3), so please forgive me if I repeat anything that’s already been said elsewhere on another strand. I listened to the last 'Sunday Morning' (January 8) and must admit to my relief at having a brief break from the ubiquitous Rob Cowan. I don’t dislike his style, though he does seem make rather a lot of stumbles and blunders, but I do get a little weary at the constant suggestion that everything was so much better in the 1950s and 60s – you do wonder whether he actually goes to concerts or engages with what’s going on TODAY in the live world. He certainly doesn’t give that impression. (Also, seven consecutive days, pre-Christmas, from him – CD Review, Sunday Morning and then five days of the execrable Essential Classics – was really a bit much.)

I was a great fan of the late-lamented Classical Collection – interesting music offered in thought-provoking and often rewarding performances. Last Sunday Morning seemed to capture something of CC’s spirit (not surprisingly as it was presented by James Jolly). We didn’t have any bleeding chunks (unless you count ‘Vltava’ as one), we had some rarely heard music (Szymanowski, Martinu, Rosenmüller and an intriguing transcription of the Bach Toccata and Fugue) and what a joy to hear Finzi’s lovely Clarinet Concerto. The links between pieces were kept short and relevant and we weren’t constantly assaulted by Tweets, Innocent Ear stuff and ‘interactivity’ (apart from a pretty discreet thread about Kiri Te Kanawa). And even the over-played Moonlight Sonata was given in a performance that had clearly been chosen with care (Pollini).

Reading some of the preceding threads does make me question whether followers of this topic actually listen to the radio as it’s surely supposed to be consumed – allowing serendipity to guide us down new alleys (I’d never heard the Martinu Overture or even heard OF Rosenmüller). If you want to look through a playlist and ‘programme’ your listening, then Spotify is surely the thing for you. And you won’t have any talk at all!

My feeling, for what it’s worth (and our opinions are being canvassed here) is that Sunday Morning works pretty well. Try and discourage RC from his constant fetish for opinions and feedback (I personally don’t give a stuff what Mrs Smith from Torquay thinks about the Four Seasons) and give us a classy menu with variety, depth and breadth. And maybe give JJ more than one show in a blue moon, as he seems to understand what a Sunday Morning’s supposed to be.

[french frank]

Hello, Patrick - and welcome!

I'm not sure that your comments differ tremendously from the views expressed: it seems pretty well unanimous - so far - that 'interactivity isn't what people want and what they do want is what you describe as a 'classy menu with variety, depth and breadth'. The commissioning brief mentions 'a distinctive weekend feel' (I'm not quite sure what that is) but bringing in topical stories (for example) wouldn't be, I don't think, what people would appreciate.

More room for a variety of views when it comes to presenters' style. One person's most admired presenter is someone else's total turn-off. For Sundays, this is a key 3-hour slot and I think to keep listeners coming back presentation has to be very light, the focus on the music, with information also music-centred. If you do have the same presenter, week after week, I personally think that makes it more important for the production team to have a strong say in choice of works so that you don't get a 'same old, same old' impression with the choice being influenced by the presenter's likes and dislikes.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Getting Sunday morning programming 'right' is particularly important in that Sunday evenings are music free zones on R3 except during the Proms and of course those of us who work are also more likely to tune in on a Sunday morning, especially if there isn't any music being broadcast during the evening.

[doversoul1]

It may be a good idea to make Sunday Morning clearly distinct from the busy weekday morning programme. I don’t think I need to give further details.

[ed] To Laura: A lot about the weekday programme has been said on this thread but if you need more information/opinions about the programme, please see the Eternal Breakfast Debate thread on this board.

[Anna]

I agree with Dover, Sunday shouldn't be more of the same, weekdays are cloned, Sunday should be different. I wouldn't object to a short talk, as long as the subject was musical (say about ancient intruments like lyres or serpents! Or music in Ancient Greece, or about notation and scores) something informative. But no celebs, tweets or quizzes or gimmicks or themes.

[DracoM]

Anna

Whadya think - back to Music Magazine?

[Serial_Apologist]

I agree with Dover, Sunday shouldn't be more of the same, weekdays are cloned, Sunday should be different. I wouldn't object to a short talk, as long as the subject was musical (say about ancient intruments like lyres or serpents! Or music in Ancient Greece, or about notation and scores) something informative. But no celebs, tweets or quizzes or gimmicks or themes.

I say: bring back The Lord's Day Observance Society!

(No I don't really. Even so..............................................)

[Anna]

Anna

Whadya think - back to Music Magazine?

Draco, I've only been a R3 listener since about 2004, not sure if I know that at all?

[vinteuil]

... bring back Anna Instone and Julian Herbage!

[Norfolk Born]

...don't forget Alvar Lidell, John Snagge and Leslie Mitchell!