Overkill ?

[zola]

Alan Davey proudly announces that as part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed hype throughout 2020, Composer of the Week will be devoted to Beethoven every fortnight. Overkill or an enterprising initiative ?

[Bryn]

Alan Davey proudly announces that as part of Radio 3's Beethoven Unleashed hype throughout 2020, Composer of the Week will be devoted to Beethoven every fortnight. Overkill or an enterprising initiative ?

We'll just have to wait and hear.

[vinteuil]

.

... I feel sure we have had this discussion before - but wasn't it Kurtág (?) in 1970 (??) who said that the best way to mark a Beethoven anniversary wd be to have an entire year with no Beethoven played at all?


.

[Andy Freude]

Isn't the point that, as far as "Composer of the Week" is concerned, for half the year it is effectively being removed from the station? Wasn't there a time when it was possible to find a space in the timetable for a long series of programmes dedicated to a single subject without taking over an existing programme that, by definition, depends on variety each week? The timetable is now rigidly set in stone with no flexibility to accommodate such temporary changes. At least it isn't as draconian as clearing the entire timetable for a "Beethoven Experience".

[Pulcinella]

Isn't the point that, as far as "Composer of the Week" is concerned, for half the year it is effectively being removed from the station? Wasn't there a time when it was possible to find a space in the timetable for a long series of programmes dedicated to a single subject without taking over an existing programme that, by definition, depends on variety each week? The timetable is now rigidly set in stone with no flexibility to accommodate such temporary changes. At least it isn't as draconian as clearing the entire timetable for a "Beethoven Experience".

Oh, don't worry: I'm pretty sure we'll be having (at least) one of those too!

[Serial_Apologist]

I can't think of any worse way to bring young people to music of the classical tradition than deifying any particular composer in this way, especially one who died almost 200 years ago, reinforcing a notion of music from the museum.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It just sounds like Radio 3 showing a complete lack of imagination yet again. No doubt the endless trailers will be even more nauseating than the Proms ones (which have always reminded me of soap powder adverts).

[Kernow Malc]

What will be even worse will the the adverts day in day out for it...

[pastoralguy]

I love Beethoven. He was the first composer my little ears heard when I was growing up since my father was a fan. However, his music isn't exactly under represented on the radio or in concert halls so why do we need this glut of performances and exposure?

[Quarky]

If my memory serves me right, Radio 3 broadcast the entire oeuvre of Beethoven non-stop, not so many years ago. It was accounted a great success.

Regretfully, Beethoven is not currently on my play list. Not even when dressed up as an item of Early Music, as per Nick Kenyon the other Sunday.

[Bryn]

If my memory serves me right, Radio 3 broadcast the entire oeuvre of Beethoven non-stop, not so many years ago. It was accounted a great success.

Regretfully, Beethoven is not currently on my play list. Not even when dressed up as an item of Early Music, as per Nick Kenyon the other Sunday.

Not quite non-stop. Each item tended to be introduced by a Radio presenter. I'd welcome another complete survey, but through the year, not as another intense 'Beethoven Experience'.

[MrGongGong]

I thought this was going to be about Mr Kilmister

[pastoralguy]

If my memory serves me right, Radio 3 broadcast the entire oeuvre of Beethoven non-stop, not so many years ago. It was accounted a great success.

Regretfully, Beethoven is not currently on my play list. Not even when dressed up as an item of Early Music, as per Nick Kenyon the other Sunday.

I recorded every minute of that 'Beethoven Experience' on mini-discs which now live in a shoe box with that week's Radio Times! One day, I'll listen to all of it. (Although I do have a friend who HAS heard it all after I loaned him the aforementioned shoe box!)

A very brave experiment by the BBC, imho!

[Bryn]

I recorded every minute of that 'Beethoven Experience' on mini-discs which now live in a shoe box with that week's Radio Times! One day, I'll listen to all of it. (Although I do have a friend who HAS heard it all after I loaned him the aforementioned shoe box!)

A very brave experiment by the BBC, imho!

The Beethoven Experience having been prior to anything like the the current audio quality of today's 'HD Sound' on Sounds, I resorted to saving the DAB mp2 streams via a Pure Bug. Apart from the generally restricted audio definition, there was also the occasional switch from 192kbps to 160kbps in the middle of a piece, with attendant audio glitch Wellingtons Sieg being one example.

[Dave2002]

The Beethoven Experience having been prior to anything like the the current audio quality of today's 'HD Sound' on Sounds, I resorted to saving the DAB mp2 streams via a Pure Bug. Apart from the generally restricted audio definition, there was also the occasional switch from 192kbps to 160kbps in the middle of a piece, with attendant audio glitch Wellingtons Sieg being one example.

I recorded huge chunks of the various Experiences (Bach, Beethoven) years ago, but I think that some have now been lost irretrievably due to factors slightly outside my control. I recall using Total Recorder and timers to to get some of the programmes. The Bach experience was interesting, as some of the cantatas which are not perhaps too well known, were very striking, and the performances (one in particular, by JEG - but I can't remember which) were somewhat different from others.

I think we got fed up with the incessant nature of the broadcasting after a few days though, and I'm sure many people wouldn't last more than an hour or so. Whether things will be better now, as more people are listening "on demand" and time shifted, I can't say for sure - though there are probably still many who listen "live", and they could get fatigue really quite quickly.