I've just had dinner with a friend whose daughter is a member of the BBC Singers she'll be be singing in this afternoon's broadcast CE and was involved in last week's Schubert programme.
Evidently, she was talking to one of the BBC people involved in last Wednesday's broadcast and was told that the Corporation had become aware of criticism in on - line forums of the professional ability of some of the musicians involved in CE and had decided, in accordance with its policy of protecting the privacy of contributors to its output and safeguarding people generally against cyber - harrassment, that it will, from September 1st, no longer publish the venues for the CE broadcasts but will only announce the service music and readings etc.
Isn't this absolutely ridiculous? The BBC used to be known as Auntie BEEB now perhaps it should be Nanny BEEB!!
Oh well, in the same way as we amuse ourselves at present by trying to guess whether it is boys, girls or mixed forces singing we can now also try to guess which choir it is.
There will be some obvious clues:
There will be no mistaking the three second echo of St Paul's for example.
The trademark wobbling of NCO will be obvious.
That sounds like a jumbo jet flying overhead - must be St George's, Windsor.
There seems to be a railway sidings in the background - could only be Southwark.
The rumble of a subway train and mangled American vowels would suggest a broadcast from St Thomas's, New York.
That choir was brilliant, big sound but slightly rough round the edges, definitely Winchester!
The singing was out of this world, right up there with the Cherubim and Seraphim - could only be St Albans.
Yes, daft as it is it could make for a bit of fun.
Personally I think the BBC is really brassed off with on - line criticism of its sound engineering and thinks that if listeners don't know where the broadcast is coming from they won't be able to judge whether the acoustic has been properly captured or not.
But honestly, like most examples of political correctness gone mad you couldn't make it up if you tried.
VCC.
Evidently, she was talking to one of the BBC people involved in last Wednesday's broadcast and was told that the Corporation had become aware of criticism in on - line forums of the professional ability of some of the musicians involved in CE and had decided, in accordance with its policy of protecting the privacy of contributors to its output and safeguarding people generally against cyber - harrassment, that it will, from September 1st, no longer publish the venues for the CE broadcasts but will only announce the service music and readings etc.
Isn't this absolutely ridiculous? The BBC used to be known as Auntie BEEB now perhaps it should be Nanny BEEB!!
Oh well, in the same way as we amuse ourselves at present by trying to guess whether it is boys, girls or mixed forces singing we can now also try to guess which choir it is.
There will be some obvious clues:
There will be no mistaking the three second echo of St Paul's for example.
The trademark wobbling of NCO will be obvious.
That sounds like a jumbo jet flying overhead - must be St George's, Windsor.
There seems to be a railway sidings in the background - could only be Southwark.
The rumble of a subway train and mangled American vowels would suggest a broadcast from St Thomas's, New York.
That choir was brilliant, big sound but slightly rough round the edges, definitely Winchester!
The singing was out of this world, right up there with the Cherubim and Seraphim - could only be St Albans.
Yes, daft as it is it could make for a bit of fun.
Personally I think the BBC is really brassed off with on - line criticism of its sound engineering and thinks that if listeners don't know where the broadcast is coming from they won't be able to judge whether the acoustic has been properly captured or not.
But honestly, like most examples of political correctness gone mad you couldn't make it up if you tried.
VCC.
Comment