Radio 3 dying

[EdgeleyRob]

But not quite dead yet!

[french frank]

I am just writing to the Trust again in a continuing dialogue.

The point: a cultural or arts station should consider only the content, not the 'kind of listener' they want to attract.


Let people find what they want from what's on offer, and if they don't like Radio 3 there are plenty of other stations. How much they already know about classical music is irrelevant.

[doversoul1]

What if they argue that since Radio3 is a public radio station, it should do its best to make arts and culture (whatever they mean by this) accessible to as many people as possible? Being inclusive and all that…

And what did what’s his name said on the R3 Facebook? Something about we should all want everybody to enjoy classical music or something to that effect. [overused sad face emoticon]

[french frank]

What if they argue that since Radio3 is a public radio station, it should do its best to make arts and culture (whatever they mean by this) accessible to as many people as possible? Being inclusive and all that…

Reminds me of a news story from Australia about throwing 6-month-old babies into the water and - lo! they swim.


I'm listening to Essential Classics at the moment and Derren Brown is talking about faith-healers. I can't see how this introduces people to classical music. I'd have turned off when the Brain Teaser came on for the first time but this is work .

DB has just described Pergolesi's Stabat Mater as bouncy and sentimental. As a programme, this doesn't fit together with Curzon playing Grieg. After 2 hours I'm tired of Rob - not because it's Rob, but because it gives the impression that the programme is anchored round one person who can't be very inspired when discussing faith-healers, and Clifford Curzon, and brain teasers, and reading out text messages.

(Now DB has described the Stabat Mater - asked what it means to him - as a 'joyful' piece. Stabat mater dolorosa Juxta crucem lacrimosa ...)

[doversoul1]

Dum pendebat filius….

Radio3 is under RW’s evil spell and has forgotten what it really is. The spell must be broken but how….. Can’t Rob be persuaded?

By the way, I have a suspicion that the lack of playlists is a deliberate way of getting ‘new’ listeners to casually tune in. These listeners are supposed to have no idea about what’s what so publishing what is going to be played is pointless. Even undesirable as it can put them off with scary foreign names.

[french frank]

By the way, I have a suspicion that the lack of playlists is a deliberate way of getting ‘new’ listeners to casually tune in. These listeners are supposed to have no idea about what’s what so publishing what is going to be played is pointless. Even undesirable as it can put them off with scary foreign names.

I don't think 'new' listeners are concerned about there being an advance playlist. If they have 'little knowledge' of classical music (as the BBC describes it) they certainly won't even have heard of most of today's pieces, still less be familiar with them.

I am quite surprised that these are considered 'Essential Classics'. Actually, I don't think they are. The title is just a name - it doesn't have a lot to do with the content. Rob (I assume) has come up with some interesting works, though the Grieg and Handel could be called 'essential'. But certainly not the Martinu or the Fibich.

There is a sort of attempt to appeal to a wide range of listeners, but I'm not at all sure that it won't just miss the target with both new and knowledgeable listeners.

[Stillhomewardbound]

What did I do to deserve to wake each morning to a wretched cliche!

Take your pick:

Ravel's Bolero

MacGunn's LoftheM&S

QofSehba, arrival thereof-Handel

'Prentice, Dukas's, Socerer's ...

Gershwin ... RIB, ad nauseum

... And all with the parrot in between ... that was, this is, why don't you try ...

Why missed it already well stand by for 453 future opportuntis in which you can catch it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[decantor]

But not quite dead yet!

Indeed not. Today's (Wednesday's) session from noon to 4.30 was sublime: CotW with acres of exquisite A.Scarlatti, 70 mins of fine solo violin (Bach/Hartmann/Bach), a Bruckner motet and symphony, and Victoria's Requiem, live and liturgical, from Westminster. Nothing to complain about there.

Late-evening and TTN programming is also usually pretty good - complete works with unfussy(ish) presentation. It's the candy-floss style of the mornings, and the itsy-bitsy let's-have-a-chat style of the early evening, that so irritate....... but that's barely a third of the day, even if it's an important third for many people. But there is life in the old dog yet.

[Nick Armstrong]

... Derren Brown ... has just described Pergolesi's Stabat Mater as bouncy and sentimental. ...
Now DB has described the Stabat Mater - asked what it means to him - as a 'joyful' piece. Stabat mater dolorosa Juxta crucem lacrimosa ...)

I know - I flagged this on the Essential C thread... Unbelievable, wasn't it??!

Who gains by allowing gibberish like that on the air? Only the guest by way of his contributor's fee. New listeners are confused or suspect a cock-up when the ineffably sad music is introduced like that (not even a whimper from Rob C, too busy shedding internal lacrimae presumably, at being forced to engage in this sort of crap), and anyone familiar with the piece just insulted and driven away.

Bouncy...

Sweet Jesus.

[antongould]

Presumably the last rights were read yesterday by the Breakfast Your Call guest John Saxbee 71st Bisop of Lincoln - who was, at least I thought, not stupid and spoke very movingly about how a music teacher changed his life for ever...........

[Frances_iom]

Presumably the last rights were read yesterday by the Breakfast Your Call guest John Saxbee 71st Bisop of Lincoln -.

I hear that the BBC is anti Christianity but was it necessary to invoke the European declaration for his voice to be heard ?

[Frances_iom]

Bouncy...

Sweet Jesus.

surely Mary wept!

[antongould]

I hear that the BBC is anti Christianity but was it necessary to invoke the European declaration for his voice to be heard ?

He must have been aware of this diktat, as I am not, and did not ask for a religious piece. It was however followed by Take Him earth, for cherishing.

[Bryn]

I hear that the BBC is anti Christianity but was it necessary to invoke the European declaration for his voice to be heard ?

What a joke. The beeb is crammed full of god-squadders of one Christian brand or another.

[MrGongGong]

What a joke. The beeb is crammed full of god-squadders of one Christian brand or another.

And it's full of lefty anti Israeli propagandists ................