Radio 3 during the period of National Mourning

[eighthobstruction]

Agreed. I cycled through parts of central London yesterday, areas just north of Marble Arch - not a single sign of anything: no photos, etc in shop windows - nothing to indicate anything has happened. The only photo of HMQ I saw was a faded newspaper pull-out stuck to a hair salon window since the 70th Jubilee in the summer.

Then, approaching the Palace, barriers preventing progress (other than on foot) down Constitution Hill, more people than usual, and dozens of portaloos already erected in Hyde Park for the funeral, were the only tangible signs of recent events…

....portaloos no doubt to be used by El Sans (sorry mixture of languages needed to launch this EU pun)....

[Nick Armstrong]

Some sense from Andrew O'Hagan in the LRB:

https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2022/September/the-death-parade

JR

Renewed thanks for this. It hits several bull’s-eyes and is brilliantly written. I’ve shared with many friends and family.

[french frank]

But I don't feel any need to 'mourn'. That's for her friends and relatives.

That's a key point. Probably the reason why most people out on the street show no signs of taking much notice. I do know that on Thursday at 5pm I was having my hair cut and it was the topic of conversation (the news was only that there had been 'concern' over her health). As usual I knew nothing so didn't join in. But their was no whiff of republicanism from the under 40s.

But 'mourning' - only in a technical, official sense not on a personal level. If I have any exasperation it's for the people who can't just sigh and put up with it all until it's over, but have to make a fuss about their football/concert/theatre/television programme being cancelled or even for renewed complaints about the monarchy and all that it entails (which is not to deny the justice of the political case). No need to make it all about one's personal obsessions.

Just go for long walks or start reading War and Peace. It'll soon be over.

[eighthobstruction]

Renewed thanks for this. It hits several bull’s-eyes and is brilliantly written. I’ve shared with many friends and family.

....yer

[Jazzrook]

Renewed thanks for this. It hits several bull’s-eyes and is brilliantly written. I’ve shared with many friends and family.

Agreed. It's about the only critical article I've come across.
I find the unrelenting mainstream media coverage quite oppressive.

JR

[cloughie]

We've seen it all before. After Diana, 'the nation was in shock'. Well, no, we weren't.

I was disappointed the Archers omnibus was cancelled, but when I caught up with it on BBC Sounds I was relieved to hear the origibnal version of 'Barwick Green' instead of the horrendous re-instrumented version we get normally.

It wasn’t cancelled and the ‘missed’ Thursday and Friday editions were included.

[oddoneout]

I find the unrelenting mainstream media coverage quite oppressive.JR

It hasn't impinged that much on me as I don't watch TV news, nor listen to it other than R3 headlines, and I can choose to skip over whatever is dominating the online offerings. However I can understand that it is questionable whether the blanket coverage should be at the expense of everything and anything else.
As with the death of Prince Philip it is ironic that the changes that have been made to the R3 schedule have been for the better in many cases.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I second the suggestion of a separate thread for the monarchy matters debate, not least as "normal" R3 service is now resumed it would seem, with today's schedule being the usual line-up, so there will be less reason to contribute on the OT.

At the moment Essential Classics is very different from its usual fare. “Rejoice In The Lord Always” at the moment and minimal chatter…
It’s about the only silver lining in a dark cloud…

[oddoneout]

At the moment Essential Classics is very different from its usual fare. “Rejoice In The Lord Always” at the moment and minimal chatter…
It’s about the only silver lining in a dark cloud…

The playlist challenge is back in, plus the other bits and bobs. The music selection doesn't seem that different, if at all, from a decent normal offering, which do happen pretty often.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The playlist challenge is back in, plus the other bits and bobs. The music selection doesn't seem that different, if at all, from a decent normal offering, which do happen pretty often.

But don’t you find the tone so much less grating ? Sheep may safely graze at the moment ….
Very subdued choice of music don’t you think…?

[oddoneout]

But don’t you find the tone so much less grating ? Sheep may safely graze at the moment ….
Very subdued choice of music don’t you think…?

This was last Monday's selection https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bkkl so I don't know that today's is "very subdued" by comparison?
However it doesn't really matter that much - if you and I are both liking this morning's offering that is the main thing - setting aside for now the arguments about whether it is the kind of output R3 should be engaged in.

[ahinton]

....I think you might find these posts were just Humour about L Truss....not D & M....

Well, I won't "find" because I didn't see them!

[smittims]

I think that, by their nature, long-established broadcasting channels are ill-suited to a sudden bending to fit in with external events. I remember when BBC TV couldn't have anything frightening or tragic on Christmas Day. Even long-running serials which normally featured fear or violence, such as 'Doctor Who?' had to have a light-hearted Christmas episode.

But Radio3 was recently praised for being one of the things that keeps us sane and well-balanced in this crazy century, and it does habitually broadcast serious things, so it might have been possible to avoid the sudden blanket of soothing music .

[Nick Armstrong]

Meanwhile, tomorrow’s Order of Service:

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/me...izabeth-ii.pdf

[Petrushka]

Meanwhile, tomorrow’s Order of Service:

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/me...izabeth-ii.pdf

And also the Committal Order of Service in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/committal_of_her_majesty_queen_elizabeth_ii_-_order_of_service.pdf