Women Composers' Thread/International Women's Day 2015 on R3

[Black Swan]

I agree with oversoul. It is to bad this is a one off approach. R3 should perform works by women more often if there is music of quality and interest to play. For my part I have been listening to those women composers who I have had in interest in for some time, Kaija Saariaho, Jennifer Higdon and Unsuk Chin, and the little know American Composer Libbie Larsen this morning.

[Nick Armstrong]

Doreen Carwithen never gets much of a mention.

Incidentally, did anybody remind Cals to set his alarm for the big day?

I was just listening to stuff recorded yesterday as well!

I'm afraid I've boycotted the live stuff today.

But yes, Doreen a.k.a. Mrs Alwyn does deserve more of a mention I suspect - her concerto for piano and strings played on CD Review the other week sounded glorious, esp. a really lovely slow movement

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Somm/SOMM254

[Don Petter]

Akin to

"The feeling that I should scream if I heard a reference to International Women's Day again" - Cal Iban.

And it's not yet quarter to eleven.

It's typical of R3 these days to worry a bone as if trying to kill it.

I haven't been listening today, but I feel much the same about the phrase 'New Generation Artist'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's typical of R3 these days to worry a bone as if trying to kill it.

I haven't been listening today, but I feel much the same about the phrase 'New Generation Artist'.

I come back to my "freak-show" allegation. So many of the snippets are being broadcast for the sole reason that they were composed by women, and not because of the quality of the music itself. This does a massive disservice to the women who really do compose fine music.

[Don Petter]

I come back to my "freak-show" allegation. So many of the snippets are being broadcast for the sole reason that they were composed by women, and not because of the quality of the music itself. This does a massive disservice to the women who really do compose fine music.

This would seem to echo the Johnsonian attitude, as when he was asked about a woman preacher at a Quaker meeting:

"Sir, a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all."

[Black Swan]

I come back to my "freak-show" allegation. So many of the snippets are being broadcast for the sole reason that they were composed by women, and not because of the quality of the music itself. This does a massive disservice to the women who really do compose fine music.

I couldn't agree more. I have on the whole not tuned into Radio 3 today for this reason.

[Richard Tarleton]

At least today's dismal R3 made me tune in (on a long car journey) to Desert Island discs, and to make the acquaintance of a remarkable man there.

[teamsaint]

I was just listening to stuff recorded yesterday as well!

I'm afraid I've boycotted the live stuff today.

But yes, Doreen a.k.a. Mrs Alwyn does deserve more of a mention I suspect - her concerto for piano and strings played on CD Review the other week sounded glorious, esp. a really lovely slow movement

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Somm/SOMM254

looks an interesting disc, Cals.

I'll give the PC a spin, there is a recording, and plenty else available on youtube.

The String quartets are well worth a listen.

Just a thought, they could play stuff like this on daytime R3.

Any day, not just today.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well, the only freak show I've encountered today was courtesy of the inane antics of Cowen and Walker this morning. Elsewhere, most of the Music has been excellent and none of it (I missed the "snippets") lacking in quality; much of it, indeed, superior to many of the snippets that get broadcast on R3 every other day of the year solely because they were composed by men.

[Don Petter]

Those who have purposely avoided all today's broadcasts "on principle" are going to have a particularly messy time when they catch colds: all those noses cut off just to spite faces.

I have no principles. It's just that Sundays are filled with things other than listening to R3.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have no principles. It's just that Sundays are filled with things other than listening to R3.

Quite so - and I have removed the offending (and offensive) comment from my original.

I do, however, reiterate my opinion that, the Cowen/Walker disgrace aside, this has been the best day's broadcasting that R3 has done for years. For the first time in a decade I have stayed with programmes just because the content has been fascinating, informative, new and good - quite took me back.

[Don Petter]

Quite so - and I have removed the offending (and offensive) comment from my originaL.

No offence taken here, I assure you!

[jean]

I couldn't agree more. I have on the whole not tuned into Radio 3 today for this reason.

So you haven't actually heard what was brodcast?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well, the only freak show I've encountered today was courtesy of the inane antics of Cowen and Walker this morning. Elsewhere, most of the Music has been excellent and none of it (I missed the "snippets") lacking in quality; much of it, indeed, superior to many of the snippets that get broadcast on R3 every other day of the year solely because they were composed by men.

The Rob and Sarah show was what prompted my comment. However, I recorded TTN and have been listening to this for some of today.

[Black Swan]

I did listen to the Early Music show. Which was enjoyable.