Doing this survey for 3 years running has certainly highlighted the areas of classical music that are not in favour with the 'Dear Leader' and his Politburo. Hindemith less than 75 works in 3 years, Honegger just under 50 in 3 years with this year down to a dozen. The sudden drop in the amount of Martinu after 2009, and even in that anniversary year he was woefully underepresented, this year he dropped below 50. Maliperio, K A Hartmann and Atterburg had one piece each this year, the first since I began my survey. The more demanding works of Copland and Stravinsky have all but vanished and even an important living composer such as Henze has barely had 20 works/extracts broadcast in 3 years.
But even slightly lesser known romantic & classical composers are kept to a bare minimum if they are played at all. Also only around 200 out of 2180 composers had 20 or more works/extracts broadcast in the year. With so much music now available in so many different formats you would think R3 would be actively trying to promote and encourage its listeners to listen as widely as possible. Instead it is for many parts of day now turning its back on this type of listener in a desperate attempt to woo listeners from CFM & Radio 2.
But even slightly lesser known romantic & classical composers are kept to a bare minimum if they are played at all. Also only around 200 out of 2180 composers had 20 or more works/extracts broadcast in the year. With so much music now available in so many different formats you would think R3 would be actively trying to promote and encourage its listeners to listen as widely as possible. Instead it is for many parts of day now turning its back on this type of listener in a desperate attempt to woo listeners from CFM & Radio 2.
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