Jess Gillam's "This Classical Life"

[Richard Tarleton]

Yes, I had Island in the Sun as well. And I got the gender of Haiti wrong

Island in the Sun was paired with Coconut Woman, on the 78 (I had it too).

[DracoM]

Jacob Collier's Music Room

Hey, FF, many thx for this.

[doversoul1]

I've listened to a couple of episodes now. My feeling: it should be on Radio 1. There's a sort of first-year studentish 'chatting with my new friend in my room in hall' air about it. Putting on a record then talking over it, sometimes about music, sometimes about anything else that happens to occur to me. Us getting to know each other.

But really not of much interest for the music, the talk about music or what it reveals about either guest or presenter. Much what I guessed from reading the comments, so prejudice confirmed.

On to a winner, I thought I'd push on and confirm another prejudice: by listening to clips of Jacob Collier's Music Room (no longer on). Quite a different story. He's a bit older than Jess (he's 24, she's 20) but he is highly articulate, very musically knowlegeable and has a speaking voice which (I think) singers often have - 'tuneful' and well modulated which is very easy on the ear. As a music broadcaster he could be another David Munrow. [Although I'd wish he was talking about Early Music rather than the usual broad range of contemporay music as well as classical, that's just a personal preference which concerns me and no one else]

What promotion did this programme have? I suppose the term multi-instrumentalist probably activated my prejudice. David Munrow came to my mind too while listening to the link. What sets him apart from most ‘presenters’ is that he does not talk about himself. No ‘I’s. It’s all about music. I’d have thought he would very much appeal to music minded intelligent young people.

[DracoM]

Indeed. And I cannot for the life of me ever remember this programme at all!
What a decent bit of education it is! Simple, less is more etc.

[french frank]

What promotion did this programme have? I suppose the term multi-instrumentalist probably activated my prejudice. David Munrow came to my mind too while listening to the link. What sets him apart from most ‘presenters’ is that he does not talk about himself. No ‘I’s. It’s all about music. I’d have thought he would very much appeal to music minded intelligent young people.

I was prejudiced against him because he was Young, Played Lots Of Instruments and Received Lavish Praise from some quarters. Clearly Overhyped. I was wrong - no idea about his musical talents, but he is an excellent communicator.

Indeed. And I cannot for the life of me ever remember this programme at all!

No, it seemed to come and go. Clearly too intelligent for R3. Get rid.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I listened to yesterday’s programme and it was dire. Tom Service’s programme, which preceded it, was fine in comparison, having reduced his talking over the music to a less irritating level. Jess et al were verbally crooning over the music constantly. ‘Dumbing down’ just doesn’t do it justice.

[doversoul1]

I listened to yesterday’s programme and it was dire. Tom Service’s programme, which preceded it, was fine in comparison, having reduced his talking over the music to a less irritating level. Jess et al were verbally crooning over the music constantly. ‘Dumbing down’ just doesn’t do it justice.

What do you think of this programme (the one that ff mentions)?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0717n9q

[MrGongGong]

I liked the one I heard the other day
I enjoyed hearing young people who were enthused by music talk in a light way about the music they were excited by
It's not "instead" of all the other things BUT "as well as"

[french frank]

I liked the one I heard the other day
I enjoyed hearing young people who were enthused by music talk in a light way about the music they were excited by
It's not "instead" of all the other things BUT "as well as"

All that may be true, but even agreeing with that, I think it's a better fit with Radio 1. 'It's not "instead" of all the other things BUT "as well as"' might just as well be a good motto for Radio 1.

Radio 3's theory is, "We want young people listening to Radio 3, and it doesn't matter what they're listening to,"
or, "We want to attract new listeners and it doesn't matter what they're listening to."

This is precisely why so much of Radio 3 now seems to be 'dumbing down' to listeners who have become more informed. What did you think of Jacob Collier on the clips? I know you like him

[gurnemanz]

All that may be true, but even agreeing with that, I think it's a better fit with Radio 1. 'It's not "instead" of all the other things BUT "as well as"' might just as well be a good motto for Radio 1.

Radio 3's theory is, "We want young people listening to Radio 3, and it doesn't matter what they're listening to,"
or, "We want to attract new listeners and it doesn't matter what they're listening to."

This is precisely why so much of Radio 3 now seems to be 'dumbing down' to listeners who have become more informed. What did you think of Jacob Collier on the clips? I know you like him

I think I know what people mean by "dumbing down" but really dislike the term. As an old fuddy-duddy with intellectual pretensions I should be probably be in accord with its use by those who constantly insist that things are going downhill and used to be better in the good old days, but I am not. For a start, for me "dumb" means unable to speak and I prefer not to use it in the American sense of "stupid". The Radio Three morning schedule does not generally appeal to me personally, but this does not make me superior to those who do like it and do not want be forced to turn to Classic FM for a more informal approach. I can think of one very good friend of mine who I do not regard as stupid who really enjoys it and even texts in. I will sometimes tune in myself knowing that I all I want is a background rather than serious intellectual rigour in the Hans Keller vein.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Which is fair enough, gurne - but what about those listeners who do want something closer to what you call "serious intellectual rigour in the Hans Keller vein"? Which station is available to them to provide this? Or do those listeners not "matter"?

[MrGongGong]

All that may be true, but even agreeing with that, I think it's a better fit with Radio 1. 'It's not "instead" of all the other things BUT "as well as"' might just as well be a good motto for Radio 1.

Radio 3's theory is, "We want young people listening to Radio 3, and it doesn't matter what they're listening to,"
or, "We want to attract new listeners and it doesn't matter what they're listening to."

This is precisely why so much of Radio 3 now seems to be 'dumbing down' to listeners who have become more informed. What did you think of Jacob Collier on the clips? I know you like him

Do you ever listen to Radio 1 ?
I do sometimes ... late at night and this programme is miles away from the style of R1

I disagree with you opinion of the "theory" of R3
I found that the people on this short TALK BASED programme had interesting things to say
NOT the same as other programmes BUT very much talking about the musics that R3 plays
maybe it's not meant for you ?
(in the same way that CE isn't really meant for me... but that's fine)

Jacob Collier needs what RW (NOT that one !) terms "drugs to calm him"
I find him flashy and superficial, but know lots of people who love him (one even makes a point of giving me cups of tea in a Jacob Collier mug ) though they are usually "older" folks..... which says something, I think
I hear he "invented" the harmoniser

I think I know what people mean by "dumbing down" but really dislike the term

Yes, it's lazy and usually code for "something I don't like that I look down on those who do"

[DracoM]

<< lazy and usually code for "something I don't like that I look down on those who do" >>

Erm..............sorry, but a bit of a glib assumption.
Most of those using the term are examining content, level of communication and contextualising.

[MrGongGong]

<< lazy and usually code for "something I don't like that I look down on those who do" >>

Erm..............sorry, but a bit of a glib assumption.
Most of those using the term are examining content, level of communication and contextualising.

I'm in good company then (not YOU personally... he added while ducking behind the sofa !)

[Bryn]

Do you ever listen to Radio 1 ?
I do sometimes ... late at night and this programme is miles away from the style of R1

Hmm. How about 6 Music? While I'm at it, which of 1 and 6 Music would be the more likely home for Cinematic Orchestra? I first heard them on Radio 1 DAB, back in the days before it's data rate dropped from 192 to 128kbps. More recently they were featured on 6 Music. My guess would be the latter is where they are more likely to be heard, these days.