Prom 11: 1969: The Sound of a Summer - 26.07.19

[cloughie]

Thankfully and after much trepidation, I purchased a Brennan B2 last December and over the ensuing early Winter months, transferred by Classical CD collection to that device. I can now sit down and without having to keep on arising from my chair can choose what I want to hear, making up my own 'concert' of music from CDs I perhaps haven't played for years and perhaps had forgotten they existed on those shelves.

No, you have taken the fun out of searching the shelves for that gem you know is there. The idea of downloading all my CDs would be too time consuming and pointless from the point of view that I would spend far more time downloading than listening, and where would I find a computer or storage discs to accommodate them all. Whatever you want, the Status Quo is best!

[Richard Barrett]

Setting aside the mixed metaphors, this is a good criticism of the concept. It reminds me of the takeover of long-established businesses by a bunch of young bloods with a marketing concept, sharp suits and an introduction to a hedge fund manager.

Ed's Diner, a really appealing late-50s-retro hamburger joint in Old Compton St Soho (and a couple of outlliers further west) was bought, expanded and killed off with its own overreach. No doubt some folks made some money and punters like me lost a favourite fast food restaruant with camp short-order cooks and pop classics you could order up on the counter.

Patisserie Valerie, also late of Old Compton St, went through a similar cycle, although it has survived in some locations (and allegedly there is a fraud somewhere in the story).

The Proms were fine as they were: if it ain't broke....

This is all very true, KB. What was the question or problem to which the answer was concert programmes like this?

[Anastasius]

I don't generally turn R3 off when driving, but this was an exception. The worst bit was the OTT, blathering presenter and his script so I'm with pilamenon and the kernel!

I could not agree with you more. I think this prom's season is the worst yet.

[Anastasius]

Thankfully and after much trepidation, I purchased a Brennan B2 last December and over the ensuing early Winter months, transferred by Classical CD collection to that device. I can now sit down and without having to keep on arising from my chair can choose what I want to hear, making up my own 'concert' of music from CDs I perhaps haven't played for years and perhaps had forgotten they existed on those shelves.
Other than the above, I also subscribe to the Digital Concert Hall of the Berliner Philharmoniker and can access their live concerts when available and all the archived music played by top notch orchestras and soloists.

How on earth do you find anything ? When I looked at it, the display and database was totally pop oriented and even looked as if it would fail at that.

[gurnemanz]

No, you have taken the fun out of searching the shelves for that gem you know is there. The idea of downloading all my CDs would be too time consuming and pointless from the point of view that I would spend far more time downloading than listening

I have come to the same conclusion. I won't get many more CDs - I now mainly download or use Spotify. CDs already bought at Amazon can also be played or downloaded from their site as mp3. I have a huge number of CDs but know what I have thanks to a catalogue database which I use all the time and take care to maintain.

[Sir Velo]

No, you have taken the fun out of searching the shelves for that gem you know is there. The idea of downloading all my CDs would be too time consuming and pointless from the point of view that I would spend far more time downloading than listening, and where would I find a computer or storage discs to accommodate them all. Whatever you want, the Status Quo is best!

It needn't. Put the CD in the slot, let the software find the recording from the metadata and as if by magic it's there in your virtual library. Oh, and you can carry on listening to your CD at the same time.

[marvin]

How on earth do you find anything ? When I looked at it, the display and database was totally pop oriented and even looked as if it would fail at that.

Frankly, I don't quite understand your problem. All ripped CDs and their title were edited, so when I look at the Brennan's contents on their Web Ui on my browser whether that be on my laptop, tablet or phone I can see all the composers in Alphabetical listing together with the work in question and the track titles. I simply choose what i want played by tapping the play icon.
Of course before I bought the Brennan I had not realised the importance of the device being 'visible' on my wireless network and the generation of a Web UI with its excellent layout. I am very rarely in the same room now where the Brennan resides but instead listen to it remotely on quality Bluetooth headphones with an Android tablet on my lap.
I now realise how difficult it would be to access and remember one's collection just using the Brennan's display and scrolling through one's music collection using the knob and twirling and pressing it where appropriate.
If you haven't already have a look at www.brennan.co.uk