"Classical Live" was once Afternoon Concert

[Roslynmuse]

The ethos of the Third Programme and Radio 3 when it began was based on the fact that that listeners were selective. They were told what would be broadcast and at what time, and the listener chose to listen when there was something particular they wanted to hear; and audiences would be small. But 'entertainment consumption' isn't the same now. Push out as much as you can, all the time, and someone somewhere will tune in and listen to whatever is on. because they want something to listen to.

Or because they don't want silence. I am firmly convinced that many listeners don't listen, they just hear something in the background.

[smittims]

I'm sure you're right. In fact Hans Keller wrote about this at length many years ago. In contrast he cited the musicans he'd known in Vienna and the depth of their knowledge of music, as a result of what he called 'active listening'. He also mentioned the case of Weber , who wrote a very accurate and detailed description of Beethoven's Fifth after hearng it once , without a score, a radically-original work and by a composer he didn't even admire.

I've tried to do thisi, for example,when hearing Proms premieres. It's very hard work!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Or because they don't want silence. I am firmly convinced that many listeners don't listen, they just hear something in the background.

That’s what all the surveys say. I think , depending on the time of day , as many as 80 percent of listeners are doing something else. At Breakfast , the peak radio audience , it’s at times about 100 per cent. By the evening the majority will be “active “listening but the absolute numbers are much smaller.

With TV many people now double screen - text and scroll / tweet / search while watching. I spend a bit of time on wiki trying to work out the plot from the episode summaries they have , or the menu if the cast are eating in a real life restaurant, or the filming location. The whole way media is consumed is rapidly evolving . A TV programme can be a launch pad for a variety of internet explorations - many of them readily monetisable.

When I find my mind wandering at a concert or, more often at the opera where the concentration spans are longer I try and work out the chords - quite easy in most Verdi operas and even easier in that Toccata from Orfeo on just now which only seemed to have two chords.

[LMcD]

A rare outing for Tchaikowsky's 'Polish' symphony this afternoon.

[Pulcinella]

A rare outing for Tchaikowsky's 'Polish' symphony this afternoon.

Shame our cleaner isn't here till tomorrow morning.

[smittims]

Even Petroc Trelawny claimed that most listeners to Breakfast were rushing around making sandwiches and hadn't time to listen to a 35-minute symphony, as an excuse for playing only one moveemnt. He didn't explain why they couldn't still listen to as much as they wanted if the whole symphony were played for those with more time.

[LMcD]

Even Petroc Trelawny claimed that most listeners to Breakfast were rushing around making sandwiches and hadn't time to listen to a 35-minute symphony, as an excuse for playing only one moveemnt. He didn't explain why they couldn't still listen to as much as they wanted if the whole symphony were played for those with more time.

I wonder how many of the Breakfast audience actually AREN'T rushing around making sandwiches.

[oddoneout]

I wonder how many of the Breakfast audience actually AREN'T rushing around making sandwiches.

But if they aren't the right sort, ie young Sam's target audience, then they don't count, as we well know.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Even Petroc Trelawny claimed that most listeners to Breakfast were rushing around making sandwiches and hadn't time to listen to a 35-minute symphony, as an excuse for playing only one moveemnt. He didn't explain why they couldn't still listen to as much as they wanted if the whole symphony were played for those with more time.

Thing is you can make the sandwich during the first movement and listen to the rest. To be honest it’s perfectly possible to make a sandwich and listen to a symphony. I would agree that getting the kids off to school is more aurally demanding.

[Serial_Apologist]

Shame our cleaner isn't here till tomorrow morning.

You don't by any chance know of any French-Polish composers worth taking a shine to?

[LMcD]

An attractive playlist this afternoon (assuming they stick to it )

[Ein Heldenleben]

An attractive playlist this afternoon (assuming they stick to it )

Blimey and knock me down with a feather . Just caught the words “Fifth Symphony “ and expecting Dah -Dah -Dah Daaah instead we got the much rarer opening of Malcolm Arnold’s . In its own way the opening is just as distinctive…

[LMcD]

Blimey and knock me down with a feather . Just caught the words “Fifth Symphony “ and expecting Dah -Dah -Dah Daaah instead we got the much rarer opening of Malcolm Arnold’s . In its own way the opening is just as distinctive…

I've almost worked my way through the box set of Arnold symphonies which I bought and mentioned recently and the answer to the (at least for me) important question 'do you want to hear this again?' is definitely 'yes'. The Andrew Penny set was recorded in the presence of the composer and the filler on the final CD is a discussion between conductor and composer.

[Pulcinella]

I've almost worked my way through the box set of Arnold symphonies which I bought and mentioned recently and the answer to the (at least for me) important question 'do you want to hear this again?' is definitely 'yes'. The Andrew Penny set was recorded in the presence of the composer and the filler on the final CD is a discussion between conductor and composer.

And how different (in speed) is the performance of the fourth compared to Arnold's own on Lyrita!
AP 37'47"
MA 54'11"
(I don't think it's a case of missing repeats.)

[LMcD]

And how different (in speed) is the performance of the fourth compared to Arnold's own on Lyrita!
AP 37'47"
MA 54'11"
(I don't think it's a case of missing repeats.)

Perhaps they thought it was one way of getting the 3rd and 4th on 1 disc!
In which movements of the 4th is MA's version most strikingly different from Andrew Penny's (or vice versa)?