Building a Library - General Discussion

[Dave2002]

There's a lot in that. Journalist-critics tend to be communicative broadcasters by nature ... and old-style analytical performers such as David Owen Norris fall into that boat too.

I rather like David Owen Norris occasionally, but doesn’t he overdo the analysis and detail? His BALs are quite entertaining for the bar by bar elaboration of what key we’re in, and shock horror if at bar 89 there’s a chord which isn’t in the key which DON has identified at the start of that unusual bar in 13/8.

[Master Jacques]

I rather like David Owen Norris occasionally, but doesn’t he overdo the analysis and detail? His BALs are quite entertaining for the bar by bar elaboration of what key we’re in, and shock horror if at bar 89 there’s a chord which isn’t in the key which DON has identified at the start of that unusual bar in 13/8.

Yes indeed! and the same is true for Iain Burnside. But with both of them, you can rest assured that you'll finish the journey knowing a heck of a lot more about the work in question than you did beforehand. That surely has to be the aim of BaL, doesn't it? After all, the destination doesn't matter half so much as the points of interest along the road.

These streamlined jobs, where you have a couple of people gushing over a mere handful of pre-chosen brand leaders, really do not serve any useful purpose whatsoever. Or so it seems to me.

[antongould]

Frenchie has posted the following on “our” Facebook pages the response is pretty much exactly as hereabouts ...


Can it be? Unease over BBC Radio 3's Record Review - one of its most praised programmes? It seems that the segment Building a Library is meeting with disapproval, partly through the variability of recent reviewers, but mainly dislike of the 'two-handers' - presenter discussion with the reviewer. 'Time wasting' when there have become so many recordings to discuss. Comments?

[french frank]

I did try to soften the 'blow' by linking the increasing number of available recordings to the more time-consuming two-person debates. This comment seemed à propos:

"For AMcG to contribute successfully he would also have to study both the works on discussion and the key performances available. I cannot believe he has time to do this and be effective! So we end up with a dumbed down programme with less depth."

OTOH, someone liked KD on television and someone else suggested a commenter should listen to something else ("I do" was the reply). But the issue of the discussion format does seem to have touched a nerve.

[Pulcinella]

It might be worth copying my comments/contributions (message sent and reply received) about twofers on the Porgy and Bess thread: I don't know how to do this myself.

[antongould]

I did try to soften the 'blow' by linking the increasing number of available recordings to the more time-consuming two-person debates. This comment seemed à propos:

"For AMcG to contribute successfully he would also have to study both the works on discussion and the key performances available. I cannot believe he has time to do this and be effective! So we end up with a dumbed down programme with less depth."

OTOH, someone liked KD on television and someone else suggested a commenter should listen to something else ("I do" was the reply). But the issue of the discussion format does seem to have touched a nerve.

Indeed you have ff

[french frank]

R3 doesn't take much notice of this forum anyway - given our age profile, who can blame them?

Average age of the R3 listeners is now 60. I don't think the forum members are unrepresentative in that respect. I have collected 12 comments from the forum and 12 from Facebook which I'll forward to the programme and Alan Davey (if N. Farage can make a comeback, why shouldn't I?). I estimate that 85% of all the comments are critical.

[gurnemanz]

Average age of the R3 listeners is now 60. I don't think the forum members are unrepresentative in that respect. I have collected 12 comments from the forum and 12 from Facebook which I'll forward to the programme and Alan Davey (if N. Farage can make a comeback, why shouldn't I?). I estimate that 85% of all the comments are critical.

Odd to think as a 69-year-old that I was a teenager when I first became a Radio 3 listener.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If they want to attract younger people, they’re going about it completely the wrong way. Do they think young people want to be talked down to by Giggling Katie, Stroppy Susie, Talkingincessantly Tom and Gasping Petroc?

When a policy is failing - utterly -it must be time to do something that might actually work.

But that would be sensible. They could do that.

[visualnickmos]

Just a question:

Does this forum have a Facebook page?

[mikealdren]

Just a question:

Does this forum have a Facebook page?

Please, no! This forum is fine as it is.

[visualnickmos]

Please, no! This forum is fine as it is.

Indeed, thank goodness!

[pastoralguy]

Indeed, thank goodness!

[DracoM]

Deffo NO Facebook page, no, no, no!!

[french frank]

Does this forum have a Facebook page?

FoR3 was pressured into getting one ('because …') and it does serve a purpose for advocacy: inside 24 hours, 407 people reached, 337 engagements, 2 shares, 27 comments on this topic. Most of these (98%?) are not forum members so the idea that the forum is 'not representative' of Radio 3 listeners doesn't hold here. It was stressed that the query was 'fact-finding' and dissenters were encouraged to respond. Far from wanting to criticise Andrew, the feeling was that (as with others before him) overexposure is not good, especially when one particular aspect is viewed negatively.

I can't see why the forum needs a Facebook page - it was set up when the BBC messageboards were closed with the excuse that there were to be 'Facebook and Twitter' accounts which listeners could interact with. Total rubbish - they've even prevented people from starting their own Facebook topics - you can only comment on their own topics. We set our page up to be open to all members of the public; and we do quote the forum from time to time - in case anyone is tempted to join (outsiders often view us negatively! - I think we (FoR3) used to suffer from BBC dirty tricks )