BBC Choral Evensong - Schedule Change

[Lizzie]

Heard today that the Wednesday broadcast is to change to 3.30 - 4.30. Sunday repeat remains at 4 - 5pm. This is to accommodate 'scheduling needs'... Thought you might be interested. Bws. Liz

[DracoM]

Next Sunday's Ripon repeat is at 6 p.m. to accommodate the Proms, but, Lizzie, where did you hear about this midweek 3.30 p.m. change and is the implication that it is permanent?

[Lizzie]

Next Sunday's Ripon repeat is at 6 p.m. to accommodate the Proms, but, Lizzie, where did you hear about this midweek 3.30 p.m. change and is the implication that it is permanent?

I believe it's to be permanent. Heard it before we started the BBC recording of CE today at Winchester, during SCF, from Stephen Shipley, who indicated to the congregation that it will soon be common knowledge. Not good tidings of great joy I felt...

[gainasbass]

Where does it end? If this is true, it will be the end of an era. I believe that the 4 pm slot for CE broadcasts stems from the time when many of the major choral foundations - certainly York - had their weekday Evensongs at this time (most are now 5.30 pm).

[Lizzie]

Where does it end? If this is true, it will be the end of an era. I believe that the 4 pm slot for CE broadcasts stems from the time when many of the major choral foundations - certainly York - had their weekday Evensongs at this time (most are now 5.30 pm).

The fact that SS was the Producer, that he was standing 20ft in front of me atop our chancel steps and that I was wide awake at the time, rather indicates it is true! Bws. Liz

[gainasbass]

Ah well. I'm not surprised. I though that the writing might be on the wall when on other days of the week they brought forward to 4.30 Shaun Rafferty's "In Tune"!

[Lizzie]

Ah well. I'm not surprised. I though that the writing might be on the wall when on other days of the week they brought forward to 4.30 Shaun Rafferty's "In Tune"!

Yes, I believe that may be the reason!

[french frank]

Yes, I believe that may be the reason!

But what is the "reason" why In Tune can't begin at 5pm on a Wednesday, as it has been doing?

[Keraulophone]

It will be even more bewildering to be singing 'The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, The darkness falls at Thy behest', the balance test rehearsal will need to begin around 1.30 threatening a decent lunch, and we'll be in the pub by 4.35... I'm sure we'll soon get used to it, though I would prefer a much later start time around 5 or 5.30 (which will never happen).

[DracoM]

Indeed, the new timings are to 'fit in with 'In tune'.

So the surmise that R3 managers believe that R3 listeners are too stupid to be able to accommodate a slightly different start time on a Wednesday is confirmed. No doubt the terminally egregious Rafferty will pop up in the homily slot of CE to give us a preview.

To change CE for a 'drive time' programme?? How desperate does R3 have to be to accommodate a 'drive time' programme for goodness sake?

It has to be said that many [most] foundations seem to start at 5.30, but what most occurs to me is that boys / girls in non-choir school foundations will now have to have earlier travelling to get to rehearsals and sound checks [ off-work parents??] plus the entire afternoon off school, and the choir men afternoons off work too. I suppose it is only 30 minutes difference once a year. D & C, and DoMs might agree with change [ or accept it], but I wonder if the non-choir schools that provide treblles were consulted?

[ardcarp]

No doubt the terminally egregious Rafferty will pop up in the homily slot of CE to give us a preview.

[ardcarp]

It's my inconvenience I'm most worried about! Choirs of whatever constitution can convene for a one-off broadcast at pretty much any time. (Choral Mattins, anyone?) But 3.30pm for listeners rather assumes them all to be retired grannies who would be settled in their armchairs for a spot of knitting anyway. (Ooops...duck for cover.) As it is I usually have to hear the first part of CE in the car, and if I'm lucky rush into the house and higher fi during a lesson or some prayers. It will have to be LA from now on; and there is NOTHING to beat the frisson of a live broadcast...for the performers of course, but also for the listeners. If R3 really wants to expand the age-range of its audience, this isn't the way to do it.

[MrGongGong]

As has been said before
It's another world all together !
As an enthusiast of niche musics I am all for the CE fanatics getting their programme
shame that R3 seems to confine those of us who are keen on other musics (electroacoustics for example) that we excel at in the UK only seem to get the occasional broadcast in the middle of the night !

[muticus]

It's my inconvenience I'm most worried about! Choirs of whatever constitution can convene for a one-off broadcast at pretty much any time. (Choral Mattins, anyone?) But 3.30pm for listeners rather assumes them all to be retired grannies who would be settled in their armchairs for a spot of knitting anyway. (Ooops...duck for cover.) As it is I usually have to hear the first part of CE in the car, and if I'm lucky rush into the house and higher fi during a lesson or some prayers. It will have to be LA from now on; and there is NOTHING to beat the frisson of a live broadcast...for the performers of course, but also for the listeners. If R3 really wants to expand the age-range of its audience, this isn't the way to do it.

It's alright for some.....I don't finish work until 6pm - so LA or nothing it is. I agree though that the earlier start will be less than helpful for the choirs involved. As ever R3 seems committed to change for the sake of it, rather than thinking things through properly.

[spasuit]

When is this absurd god bothering programme going to be scrapped?