In Tune

[mw963]

Well I'm delighted to be corrected!

I think we (or many of us at any rate) DID know how lucky we were back in the 1970s, and indeed for the most part during the 1980s. But had I been told back then that one single controller could make such a difference - and do so much damage - that I would simply stop listening, I wouldn't have believed it.

As I've said many times here, thank goodness there IS an alternative, is radio via satellite from the rest of Europe.

[french frank]

Sadly, I fear that there is little chance that R3 in its current identity crisis would even consider broadcasting a programme that didn't involve flushloads of verbal comment and chatter between "items" of Music.

I was reflecting yesterday on what Ernest Newman actually said about his Proms concerts, his nightly concerts: "Popular at first, gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music."

And in much the same way, the Third Programme 'created an audience'. Even accepting that the Last Night isn't typical, this year's Last Night seems to be the equivalent of where Newman would have begun over 100 years ago. And Radio 3 is doing the same thing: sniffily turning its back on the "elitists", the audience that had been 'created for classical and modern music', and smugly, smarmily reintroducing 'the popular', in various guises: as contemporary chatter and banter as accompaniment, as genuinely 'popular music' and as 'popular classics', larded with occasional chunks of 'high culture' (12 days of Mozart &c) to impress the media and those who are easily impressed ...

I know there are those who disapprove of this line of criticism: it would just be enlightening to have it explained what they think this actually achieves (rather than what it claims to achieve).

[ED: Yes, I know I meant Robert Newman: I've been tellt]

[BBMmk2]

Well, carries on at this rate there be none of us listening to Radio 3 at all!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I was reflecting yesterday on what Ernest Newman actually said about his Proms concerts, his nightly concerts: "Popular at first, gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music."

I suspect Ernest Newman might have said "Nothing but Beethoven and Wagner!"

[Tony Halstead]

I was reflecting yesterday on what Ernest Newman actually said about his Proms concerts, his nightly concerts: "Popular at first, gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music."

And in much the same way, the Third Programme 'created an audience'. Even accepting that the Last Night isn't typical, this year's Last Night seems to be the equivalent of where Newman would have begun over 100 years ago. And Radio 3 is doing the same thing: sniffily turning its back on the "elitists", the audience that had been 'created for classical and modern music', and smugly, smarmily reintroducing 'the popular', in various guises: as contemporary chatter and banter as accompaniment, as genuinely 'popular music' and as 'popular classics', larded with occasional chunks of 'high culture' (12 days of Mozart &c) to impress the media and those who are easily impressed ...

I know there are those who disapprove of this line of criticism: it would just be enlightening to have it explained what they think this actually achieves (rather than what it claims to achieve).

Were Ernest and Robert Newman actually related?
We should be told....

[french frank]

I suspect Ernest Newman might have said "Nothing but Beethoven and Wagner!"

Easy mistake to make. They were twins, I expect. ROBERT.

[David-G]

I was reflecting yesterday on what Ernest Newman actually said about his Proms concerts, his nightly concerts: "Popular at first, gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music."

And in much the same way, the Third Programme 'created an audience'. Even accepting that the Last Night isn't typical, this year's Last Night seems to be the equivalent of where Newman would have begun over 100 years ago. And Radio 3 is doing the same thing: sniffily turning its back on the "elitists", the audience that had been 'created for classical and modern music', and smugly, smarmily reintroducing 'the popular', in various guises: as contemporary chatter and banter as accompaniment, as genuinely 'popular music' and as 'popular classics', larded with occasional chunks of 'high culture' (12 days of Mozart &c) to impress the media and those who are easily impressed ...

I know there are those who disapprove of this line of criticism: it would just be enlightening to have it explained what they think this actually achieves (rather than what it claims to achieve).

[ED: Yes, I know I meant Robert Newman: I've been tellt]

I agree with you ff. However, I feel that you do your excellent argument a disservice by your reference to the "12 days of Mozart &c". There are those of us who not only enjoyed this (and the Schubert!), but feel that this is what R3 should be doing from time to time.

[teamsaint]

I actually enjoyed the show this evening, Decent and interesting music, chat not too daft.
More like this would be great.

Raffers will no doubt soon be back.

[DracoM]

At which point it careers into slush, gush and self-congratulatory bumbling, adlibbed waffle by the ever lovable Rafferty.

[teamsaint]

At which point it careers into slush, gush and self-congratulatory bumbling, adlibbed waffle by the ever lovable Rafferty.

I was trying not to mention that, Dracs. I could forgive him more if he researched anything at all, ever.

[Alison]

I was trying not to mention that, Dracs. I could forgive him more if he researched anything at all, ever.

[DracoM]

Research?
Record sleeve guff and platitudes.

[underthecountertenor]

What predictably unpleasant comments. In the interests of balance: Klein is fein, but I think that Rafferty does an excellent job. Very rare does a guest of his on IT, however exalted, sound as if they are not relaxed and enjoying themselves; and the feedback I get from people I know who have been on confirms this. Given the variety of types of personality in the musical world, I think that that in itself is no mean feat on the part of Rafferty. A drive-time show with an impressive array of guests being interviewed and performing in the studio is a great idea in theory, and SR makes it happen as few others could.

[teamsaint]

I do try to make a point of avoiding personal comment generally, but Rafferty gives every impression of never doing any research, and is obsequious to a horrendous extent.

jobs like his are highly prized, and require higher standards than he displays, in my opinion.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A drive-time show with an impressive array of guests being interviewed and performing in the studio is a great idea in theory, and SR makes it happen as few others could.

I don't think that anyone would disagree with this.