Greetings from Coventry

[Bryn]

I think comparing Radio 3 with the Third Programme from that point of view is a false analogy. One really needs to compare it with R3 at its peak and how it is now. And that isn't conceding that everything about the Third was less good than now.

Smittins referred to 50 years ago. Back then, Radio 3 broadcast 17 hours a day and included cricket commentary when there was a match to be covered:

Here, for example, is the schedule for Tuesday 26 June 1973: https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedule...ree/1973-06-26

[french frank]

Smittins referred to 50 years ago. Back then, Radio 3 broadcast 17 hours a day and included cricket commentary when there was a match to be covered:

Here, for example, is the schedule for Tuesday 26 June 1973: https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedule...ree/1973-06-26

I've lost track of the point being made. Are you saying that's better (albeit with the cricket coverage) or worse than now?

[Bryn]

I've lost track of the point being made. Are you saying that's better (albeit with the cricket coverage) or worse than now?

I am saying that the total time devoted to compete works each day was less then than it is now. Apart from anything else, we now have TtN, which offers up to 7 hours of complete works a night.

[vinteuil]

.

... welcome, TarandeepKang - I hope and believe you will find this a receptive, informative, friendly place to be.

There is much enthusiasm here for a wide range of musickings - but perhaps you should be warned - the 'enthusiasms' of various people for the particular kind of music and music-making they love and relate to can lead to, what shall I say? - a robustness in defence and attack which can sometimes surprize : 'intemperate Zeal', perhaps. But on the whole we're a well-intentioned lot...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odium_theologicum

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[french frank]

... welcome, TarandeepKang - I hope and believe you will find this a receptive, informative, friendly place to be.

There is much enthusiasm here for a wide range of musickings - but perhaps you should be warned - the 'enthusiasms' of various people for the particular kind of music and music-making they love and relate to can lead to, what shall I say? - a robustness in defence and attack which can sometimes surprize : 'intemperate Zeal', perhaps. But on the whole we're a well-intentioned lot...

Well put, monsieur. (Plus, of course, there are always the emoticons to make it clear one is joking , outraged or wish everyone a Happy Christmas &c.

I am saying that the total time devoted to compete works each day was less then than it is now. Apart from anything else, we now have TtN, which offers up to 7 hours of complete works a night.

That prioritises quantity over quality, in my view.

[oddoneout]

Welcome TarandeepKang, and thank you for an interesting first post. I found it very heartening that you had found R3 in the way you describe, and hope you will continue to derive pleasure from what it has to offer which, despite the "fings ain't what they used to be" views, is still considerable, especially as new ways of listening make it possible to home in on parts you find most worthwhile.
Programmes such as Essential Classics often don't find favour on the Forum due to the lack of complete works, but the other side to that is being able to hear a wide range of music among which there is likely to be something, as a newbie to the vast world of what is mistakenly called "classical music", that you want to follow up.

So I don't know if I'm part of the typical audience, glad that the station was there to open the world of classical music to me, if it has done this, it's doing something right, even if I see some of you might believe it is "dumbing down."

As you have been lurking for a while I think you will know that you are not typical of the R3 listening demographic, although very much that which the Beeb says it wants to attract to R3, and which its attempts to do so have resulted in alienation of many of the existing audience! However as you so rightly say, the station was there, you heard something that set you off on what I hope will be a lifelong and enjoyable process of discovery, one way or another.

[Serial_Apologist]

the Halle (I know this isn't spelt correctly, I can't get the accent)

Hi there, TarandeepKang. I've been using the following link to a list of useful alternative characters. While by no means totally exhaustive it is pretty comprehensive and easy to use:

http://www.tedmontgomery.com/tutorial/altchrc.html

It's just 3 pages long for photocopying.

Looking forward to hearing more from you!

[cloughie]

I am saying that the total time devoted to compete works each day was less then than it is now. Apart from anything else, we now have TtN, which offers up to 7 hours of complete works a night.

Total time maybe but NOT proportion of music time eg 7am to 9am was mostly full works back then.

There are lies, damned lies and statistics. I’m definitely not convinced that the time provided by removal of Test Matches has been wisely used.
There is now 12 hours of a mish-mash of music delivered on 3.

[Bryn]

Total time maybe but NOT proportion of music time eg 7am to 9am was mostly full works back then.

There are lies, damned lies and statistics. I’m definitely not convinced that the time provided by removal of Test Matches has been wisely used.
There is now 12 hours of a mish-mash of music delivered on 3.

If you would care to go back to #12, you will see that I posed the question regarding which was better. I did not offer my answer, which is "a plague on both their houses". The fact remains that there is more time devoted to complete works on Radio 3 today than there was, 50 years ago.

[eighthobstruction]

....hi tarandeepK....

[french frank]

The fact remains that there is more time devoted to complete works on Radio today than there was, 50 years ago.

Another fact is that there is more time devoted to bleeding chunks (and 'presenter input' and guests) than there was 50 years ago. Perhaps it was always the best of times and the worst of times, depending on one's taste and opinion.

[oddoneout]

The arguments about times past compared to present day have been gone over many times, and doubtless will continue. Are they either helpful or relevant to the OP, which was from someone who has been introduced to the world of "classical" music by the current day R3, and who listens to that current output.
It reminds me of the classic garden joke where any compliment on the display is met with "Oh you should have been here last week, it's all gone over now"

[TarandeepKang]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I found your post interesting to read and think about.

If you had been a regular Radio3 listener fifty years ago, as some of us were, I think you might understand why we think Radio 3 has dumbed down in recent years.

I completely see your point, and, as I said before, to a certain extent I agree with it. Alas, there's no way I would have been listening to the radio 50 years ago, indeed both my parents were under the age of 10! :-) That being said, and being serious, I do think perhaps there is a benefit to be drawn from more complete pieces of music, and less "salami slicing." I think the observation others have made about their actually being a greater proportion of full pieces of music now, as opposed to in the past, is an interesting one.

Perhaps with regard to this "dumbing down" I have my own example from "in tune" which played, today, a piece by John Williams, from an Indiana Jones film, and something else I didn't know the name of which sounded somehow familiar for perhaps being the theme tune of the BBC television programme. These two, being almost consecutive (if not actually so) made me think of CFM. And if it makes me think of that, I think it supports your argument of dumbing down. I'm not suggesting for a moment that Williams isn't an entirely valid composer, just these two choices one after the other might be indicative of something…?

[TarandeepKang]

yes, there are some that gravitate more towards Early Music, others Modern Music, along with the lovers of Baroque/Classical.Romantic Periods, and the overlap is considerable

I'm not entirely sure exactly where my own interests lie, yet, although I certainly like some aspects of each of the above! Much exploration to do, and a generally very worthwhile radio resource, and forum members, to go exploring with!

[TarandeepKang]

Thank you! I'm grateful to everyone for the warm welcome here, and I look forward to getting stuck in.