Philisophical question: "Why do you listen to the radio?"

[otterhouse]

Hello all,
There are a lot of "troubles" going on with the Dutch Radio 4. Programming is popularized and there have been a lot of protests on the radio 4 forum. The forum was therefore... deleted.
But it raises the question, why do you listen to (classical) radio? There are enough CD's around with any kind of music you want to hear. You can take an USB stick / I-pod and listen to the music on a dock/car/mini-hifi.
So... why do you want to listen to the radio...? What is the reason?
greetings,

Rolf

[jbuck919]

I have always found delight in the element of surprise when listening to classical radio. Of course, that excludes the FM pops play lists that characterize rush-hour programming (for stations that program music at those hours anymore at all).

[John F]

I listen to classical music radio mainly for live (and recorded live) performances, such as the Metropolitan Opera on Saturdays and various orchestral concerts in the U.S. and abroad.

The broadcast station whose programming most interests me is WHRB, operated and staffed by Harvard undergraduates; I'm biased since I worked there many years ago. Though commercial, they aren't tyrannized by the numbers of listeners and play pretty much what they want. During the winter and spring exam periods they switch to "orgies," long blocks of time devoted to a composer or other topic, this year featuring not only birthday boy Chopin (the complete recorded works in chronological order) but also Pärt, Miaskovsky, Villa Lobos, and "The Royal Orgy," 10 hours of compositions by emperors, kings, princes and princesses, and the like. Just now they're in the third day of what must be the complete recorded Janacek, including all the operas.

During the rest of the year it's classical music from 1 to 10pm, other kinds of programming the rest of the time. I'm not much of a listener then, to WHRB or other stations, because I don't keep classical music going in the background when doing other things, and I prefer to choose what I listen to.

[Prometheus]

I agree regarding the element of surprise. Additionally, it is often a challenge to turn on the radio and see how long it takes me to identify a piece or composer.

I think the locality is an issue as well, knowing I am supporting a local station. I am also friends with one of the local cm djs. He dedicates one hour a day for 20th century music and I have learned of some good works due to this.

[Corlyss_D]

I listen to concertzender on the net since I discovered it last year, thanks to Henry. Before that it was XM Radio. I have listened to the radio for classical music at least 50 years, even at work, always when I have thinking to do. I can't think without it. It's like something's missing in my mental environment when it isn't on. I prefer it because my collection is so large, I can't program for what I want to hear. Radio pleasantly surprises me, most of the time.

[moreno]

To discover new music.
To listen to music not recorded.

[slofstra]

I only listen as background music either while working or driving. I never use the radio for focused listening.

[DavidRoss]

I only listen as background music either while working or driving. I never use the radio for focused listening.

Ditto. Except sometimes when I listen to broadcasts of performances by the San Francisco Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera, or young musicians on PRI's "From the Top."

To discover new music.
To listen to music not recorded.

Ditto, too. I first heard many pieces I love on the radio...and first heard many recordings I love of pieces I already knew.

What's the philosophical question?

[HoustonDavid]

Before the advent of CDs (they're just over a decade old, if you'll remember) I listened
to classical music on the radio randomly, mixed with other favorite genres (jazz, songbook,
rock, even country). I am an eclectic when it comes to music but my family history roots
are grounded in classical music on both sides. Beginning back in the early 1980's, I got a
"bug" to figure out what classical composer and composition I was listening to, and thus
began my CM "education". Like any "newbie", I could rattle off a dozen or more moldie oldies
(think Beethoven's 5th), but there it ended, but in my case, there it began.

Radio interjected the "surprise" element of not knowing what was coming next, which is not
possible with popping CDs in the player, unless you're not paying attention. My education
began with learning the basic categories of classical music from the announcers (baroque,
classical, romantic, etc.), then the composers associated with those periods, and finally
the compositions associated with composers. Thus began the "logical" process of identifying
classical music when I hear a piece I don't immediately recognize: what category, which
"probable" composer, until the announcer tells me I'm right (or wrong) and I have added
something new to my classical music vocabulary. If I get lazy and don't listen to anything
classical for a while, I can easily repeat the process and refresh myself, but only on the
radio.

I don't believe I will ever get to the point of identifying "players" or "conductors", nor am I
all that interested in same. You can only extend music education "logic" (at least my version)
so far. Therefore my collection is based more on having the basics of most classical music
composers, but not all the incredible variety of performers or performances. I am happy in
my musical "tent" of knowing I have a given composition to play at any given moment thanks
to the "education" provided by simply listening to the radio, which I rarely do anymore. The
cable television channels include something called "Music Choice" with a huge variety of
music types, including classical, of course. I can readily do the same "what composer, what
composition" there without the interruption of advertising or pledge drives. I don't even need
to turn on the tube because the sound track feeds through my sound system in glorious
surround or stereo, depending.

[Jack Kelso]

Whenever I drive somewhere the radio (SWR2) comes on. No ads, just live concerts (art-music), interviews, new releases, etc. I have discovered countless works and recordings new to me from radio.

Sometimes my wife and I work a 1,000 piece puzzle and turn on this station. If we don't like what they're bringing---in goes a casette or CD!

Tschüß,
Jack

[DavidRoss]

Before the advent of CDs (they're just over a decade old, if you'll remember)

Compact discs have been around for 30 years with the first commercial sales in 1982.

[Jared]

^^ I think I first remember seeing CDs in 1986/7... but then the Brits have always lagged behind..

anyway, I tend to listen to the Radio for a number of reasons:

* The R3 presenters are always able to offer me some valuable background information about the piece they are about to play (especially historical context), which I would only pick up through trawling through liner notes (and probably, not even then.. )
* I am often introduced to music I either don't know yet, or wouldn't through choice, pick up. This means that my tastes are being widened, and the purchase of a new CD of similar repertoire becomes less of a gamble.
* With well known pieces, it is nice to hear different interpretations.. given that I only have 2 versions (max) of most pieces in my collection, this helps me put a new perspective on a piece I know.
* Radio 3 (like CMG) gives me the strong sense that I'm part of a community and not listening on my own; neither (like CMG) does it talk down to me, but includes me in the conversation.
* I enjoy catching a piece part way through and trying to narrow down what it might be... how close am I with era, style, composer, even guessing at the piece. Of course, most of you will be past this game by now, but for me, it sharpens my ear and makes me listen attentively.

I guess these are 5 good reasons why I try to catch some R3 (albeit usually in the car)...

[HoustonDavid]

Compact discs have been around for 30 years with the first commercial sales in 1982.

Thanks for the correction, David. Time does fly by when you're having a good time listening
to good music. In 1982 I had barely begun collecting music on cassette tape, much less CD,
which would have been prohibitive to own because of the cost of the CD player, if nothing else,
and the lack of music available on CD until much later, especially classical music. To be fair, I
guess I first heard of CDs sometime during the '80s, but didn't begin to buy them until well into
the '90s.

[Tiger]

Since getting a CD player for my auto a few years ago, I hardly ever listen to the local classical station or any other station for that matter. Between lousy programming and endless commercials, I want nothing to do with it.

[DavidRoss]

Since getting a CD player for my auto a few years ago, I hardly ever listen to the local classical station or any other station for that matter. Between lousy programming and endless commercials, I want nothing to do with it.

Yes, I've heard similar comments from many over the years. They always make me feel grateful for my own dedicated Classical music station, KXPR in Sacramento, Groveland, and Lake Tahoe.

[ChrisX]

Hello all,
There are a lot of "troubles" going on with the Dutch Radio 4. Programming is popularized and there have been a lot of protests on the radio 4 forum. The forum was therefore... deleted.
But it raises the question, why do you listen to (classical) radio?

Did they really remove the forum? Ah, that is so lame. I you can't stand the heat, don't start a fire. How much has the programming changed of Radio 4 then? The only time I occassionally listen to it is during my daily commute (Viertak Vroeg, Viertakt Middag) and maybe late in the evening if I don't feel like selecting a cd to play.

I have always listened to a fair amount of radio (pop, rock, talk etc.) and the one thing that I do feel is the most interesting about it is the element of surprise. When it comes to music I find it interesting to not know what is coming on. Most of the time what I hear bugs the h*ll out of me but that sometimes can be of entertainment value. At work some colleagues prefer to have Sky Radio on (which is the worst middle-of-the-road non-stop light popmusic station that I know) which I can stand for about half of the week but then I switch it over to either Radio 2 (also quite middle-of-the road but the ratio of good and sometimes even unknown, to me, music is quite good) or maybe even 3FM (modern pop station).

[otterhouse]

The plug is pulled out of "viertakt vroeg", and that more or less caused a riot...

here is an automatic translation :

http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... l=nl&tl=en


Rolf

[ChrisX]

The plug is pulled out of "viertakt vroeg", and that more or less caused a riot...

What program did I hear this morning then?

[Carnivorous Sheep]

I don't listen to the radio much, perhaps I should start...

[slofstra]

I've been sampling different stations over the last year on my Internet radio, including Radio 4 NL occasionally. I found one today though that shows how it should be done: Radio Suisse Classique.

http://www.radiosuisseclassique.ch/en

At any moment I can see what is playing and what's coming up. Beside each element on the playlist there is an INFO button with additional information. Nice.

Some of the NPR stations like Vermont Classical and Minnesota Classical are good to listen to but the playlists are either absent or a mess. You have to drill down to the program web site, and each program has a different playlist setup.

WQXR did have the best playlist setup but that station dropped from my menu for some reason.

My favourite station lately has been the Australian Classical channel. That's because their all night program features longer selections, very little talk or interruption, a bit more of a "not light" repertoire, and a good on-line playlist. And the program is 6 hours long (give or take).

[otterhouse]

[quote="ChrisX"][quote="otterhouse"]The plug is pulled out of "viertakt vroeg", and that more or less caused a riot...
[/quote]

What program did I hear this morning then?[/quote]

-----------------------------

Vietakt vroeg will be replaced feb 1st. So enjoy it while you can!

The (excellent) presenter Hans Haffmans can also be heard in the USA, by the way:
http://static.rnw.nl/migratie/www.radio ... redirected

There are long mp3 samples of that program online:

http://content70b.omroep.nl/39a4e0e16dd ... bouw_1.mp3
http://content1b.omroep.nl/f91846432d5a ... bouw_2.mp3

He is now replaced by ... a former sports presenter

Rolf

[Chalkperson]

What is this thing called "Radio", I don't seem to have one...

[Beckmesser]

What is this thing called "Radio", I don't seem to have one...

Chalkie,

I think you call it the wireless.

[Wallingford]

My sole motivation, this past year, has been for taping/burning live concerts from Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Cleveland & NY, on account of the current moribund state of the CD industry.

[Lance]

Like Henry Slofstra, I only listen to classical radio when I am in the car. I also have a CD player and cassette player in the Camry, but I use them less than the radio. I do not listen to focused radio at home. Years ago, I made it a point to listen to WQXR out of NYC (“The Vocal Scene”), and frequently listened to Canadian classical music stations (which didn't have commercials). It is difficult to pick up any Canadian stations these days.

[Tiger]

My sole motivation, this past year, has been for taping/burning live concerts from Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Cleveland & NY, on account of the current moribund state of the CD industry.

What makes it moribund?

[Burbage]

Hello all,
There are a lot of "troubles" going on with the Dutch Radio 4. Programming is popularized and there have been a lot of protests on the radio 4 forum. The forum was therefore... deleted.

But it raises the question, why do you listen to (classical) radio?

Similar things have happened in relation to the BBC's Radio 3 over the years, who also closed down an online forum after protests. The result was Friends of Radio 3, a small, but growing, pressure group with it's own site at http://www.for3.org (now redesigned after some awkwardness with its online forum!).

There are plenty of reasons why I listen to the radio, but most of the time it's because I like having the radio on when I'm working, but don't much enjoy witless drivel. When I'm making a conscious effort to listen to music, then I'll usually choose recordings - but they'll be familiar to me already, and I'll be able to quickly put together a little programme for myself. The rest of the time, however, I've got other stuff to do, and I'm more than happy to leave the task to those more expert than myself, especially when they've got a much bigger collection than I could ever hope to have.

Over the years, Radio 3 has become a habit, and I've listened to it ever since I got my first wireless set. As well as the usual run of recordings and performances, it does proper reviews of recordings (which, oddly enough, seem to work better on the radio than in print), and produces the wonderful 'Discovering Music' series, which has taught me almost everything I know. I also make time to catch as many of the Saturday evening broadcasts of operas as I can. Those broadcasts opened my ears to opera nearly forty years ago and continue to do so, whatever the state of my finances.

Almost as important as the music is the fact I'm not the only person who listens to it. I have friends and relatives who can talk for hours about what we've heard during the week, and that makes a pleasant change from talking about ailments or the weather.

That's perhaps more important than it seems. I may listen to it because it's there, but it wouldn't be there if nobody listened to it. If I think it's worth keeping, it's my duty to listen to it.

[Corlyss_D]

My sole motivation, this past year, has been for taping/burning live concerts from Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Cleveland & NY, on account of the current moribund state of the CD industry.

What makes it moribund?

Something call file sharing, something else called the internet, and the last something called Apple's iPod and its attendant pricing model for dl music and video.

[Wallingford]

My sole motivation, this past year, has been for taping/burning live concerts from Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Cleveland & NY, on account of the current moribund state of the CD industry.

What makes it moribund?

Something call file sharing, something else called the internet, and the last something called Apple's iPod and its attendant pricing model for dl music and video.

Being on pricey hi-speed internet was sweet while it lasted: I also subscribed to Rhapsody, making my own custom CD & cassette dupes; and also classical performances off of YouTube.

I'm not by any means ready to accept that these older media are obsolete--but damned if I can think of a good reason why not.

[John F]

I'm not by any means ready to accept that these older media are obsolete--but damned if I can think of a good reason why not.

Because they still sell by the hundreds of millions. Figures for 2009 aren't in yet, or I haven't seen them, but in 2008, sales of CDs in the U.S. were 428,400,000, give or take. Worldwide, the total must be well over 1 billion. Rumors etc. etc.

[slofstra]

A couple more notes on Radio Suisse Classique. I mention this because I think efforts of this nature can make radio much more vital.

As I mentioned they have a really nice dashboard that shows what's playing and what's coming up.
http://www.radiosuisseclassique.ch/en

But you can also expand each playlist item, see a CD covershot, see the list of performers, link to the performers web site or a bio of the performer ... just about everything you can think of is there.

Then, you can rate the piece you're listening to and offer your comments.

The only catch is that I notice this morning the current selection highlighting is off by one piece. Oh well, "best laid plans aft gang awry".

[Chalkperson]

What is this thing called "Radio", I don't seem to have one...

Chalkie,

I think you call it the wireless.

I used to have a "Tranny Radio" when I was a kid...

[Beckmesser]

A couple more notes on Radio Suisse Classique. I mention this because I think efforts of this nature can make radio much more vital.

As I mentioned they have a really nice dashboard that shows what's playing and what's coming up.
http://www.radiosuisseclassique.ch/en

But you can also expand each playlist item, see a CD covershot, see the list of performers, link to the performers web site or a bio of the performer ... just about everything you can think of is there.

Then, you can rate the piece you're listening to and offer your comments.

The only catch is that I notice this morning the current selection highlighting is off by one piece. Oh well, "best laid plans aft gang awry".

What a coincidence! I happened to discover Radio Suisse Classique a couple of weeks ago and now I listen to it whenever I am working at my computer. It's continual music, interrupted only by the announcer identifying the work and the performers. One can choose to hear the announcements in German, French, or Italian. My only complaint is that they usually play single movements rather than whole compositions. Also, there is very little music from the 20th century (at least during the times when I listen). It's the sort of music that could be piped into restaurants and shops without getting a lot of complaints.

[Wallingford]

A couple more notes on Radio Suisse Classique. I mention this because I think efforts of this nature can make radio much more vital.

As I mentioned they have a really nice dashboard that shows what's playing and what's coming up.
http://www.radiosuisseclassique.ch/en

But you can also expand each playlist item, see a CD covershot, see the list of performers, link to the performers web site or a bio of the performer ... just about everything you can think of is there.

Then, you can rate the piece you're listening to and offer your comments.

The only catch is that I notice this morning the current selection highlighting is off by one piece. Oh well, "best laid plans aft gang awry".

What a coincidence! I happened to discover Radio Suisse Classique a couple of weeks ago and now I listen to it whenever I am working at my computer. It's continual music, interrupted only by the announcer identifying the work and the performers. One can choose to hear the announcements in German, French, or Italian. My only complaint is that they usually play single movements rather than whole compositions. Also, there is very little music from the 20th century (at least during the times when I listen). It's the sort of music that could be piped into restaurants and shops without getting a lot of complaints.

A real pity: when I had hi-speed, I tried in vain for about ten collective hours in several attempts to get Radio Suisse Romande (so I could hear their live concerts) and couldn't get them without a lot of super-slow, bite-by-bite loading. I guess "bottom-end" hi-speed isn't the way to go.

[Beckmesser]

Classical radio doesn't have quite the impact on my listening that it once did.

Fifty years ago when I was growing up in Minnesota and just discovering classical music I was a devoted listener to the CBC (we were not far from Winnipeg). I got the best reception with the car radio so that's where I did much of my listening, taking care not to run down the car battery too much. It was on one of those evenings that I heard the broadcast of that famous New York Philharmonic concert when Leonard Bernstein addressed the audience before Glenn Gould came out to perform the Brahms D Minor Piano Concerto in his own unique way.

It was around that time that I started listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts which I taped with my primitive Sony tape recorder. I still tune in every Saturday afternoon although I don't enjoy the opera quiz as much as I once did.

I have lived in many different places since leaving the Midwest and the quality of classical music radio has varied widely. In New Haven there was a station in the 1970s that had a Top-100 playlist and they just played through it over and over again (UGGHHHH!!!). In addition to WQXR New York City once had WNCN which was pretty good. David Dubal was the program director and he had his own show devoted to the piano in which he offered comparative performances of the great works of the literature (Beethoven sonatas, Chopin, Bach's WTC).

I used to be a steady supporter of WNYC, New York City's public radio station. But over the past decade they have dumped classical programming in favor of talk, talk, talk. I miss Steve Post, the quirky host of the morning music show. And the music through the night (great for an insomniac). When I got my first car with a CD player I pretty much gave up listening to classical radio. We still have WQXR and while it's a pleasure to have no commercials the reception is now pretty poor. One can, however, stream it over the internet.

Lately I have started exploring internet radio. After all I can't listen to my own CD collection all the time and I can't afford to buy recordings of everything I want to hear. It's nice to discover unfamiliar works and different interpretations. That, to my mind, is the value of classical music radio (assuming adventurous programming, of course).

[otterhouse]

One of the nicest "alternative" classical (and Jazz/world) stations is the Concertzender
Here is a promo video with English subs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOLf51SnaVo

http://www.concertzender.nl/?language=en

Discover!

Rolf

[Seán]

I listen to radio alot. I am particularly fond of "talk radio". I also listen to BBC Radio 3 which is simply wonderful most of the time, including today's dedication to Mozart.

[Fergus]

Another reason that I listen to radio is for the radio plays; the good ones leave so much to the imagination with their marvellous word pictures and suggestions.

[piston]

For good news coverage on NPR and for the occasional (increasingly rare) world premiere in classical music. Otherwise, classical music on the radio is invariably too conservative, far too conservative. I believe that the source of the problem is that so much of public radio is listener funded. Ergo, the programming will be terribly conservative not to "put off" regular funders who, like those who can't stomach twentieth-century music, would no longer contribute generously.....

At the mercy of the most conservative, but generous, listener funders. That 's why I do not listen to classical music on the radio as a general rule. I yield to them conservative funders and their aesthetic taste (singular).

[piston]

So long as the music can be played in a psychiatrist's office and not be disruptive --"good" background music no one listens to-- then the world keeps on turning.

[Chalkperson]

I have not listened to the Radio for at least 35 years...

[Lance]

Not even MY program, which can be received on your computer these days?

I have not listened to the Radio for at least 35 years...

[Lance]

The only time I listen to classcal music or newscasts on the RADIO is when I am traveling. Even though I can play CDs or tapes in the car, there is something about traveling short distances—listening to whatever is being played—especially, NPR radio. Many times I have heard selections wherein I have sought the CD for my own collection. You just never really know when you might here something that will tickle your fancy unless you listen to some classical radio. On the other hand, with substantial LP or CD collections, one can pretty much hear whatever comes to mind, and by just about any artist.

[gfweis]

Perhaps there is a participatory/communal dimension operating in listening to music on the radio that is absent in purely private listening. As with Lance, most of the classical music I listen to on the radio is heard in the car, where I think I am always at least faintly aware, as I listen, that I am a member of an audience. This changes the experience for me from that which I have in my study or living room at home, although I would be hard pressed to describe the exact difference. I do think that, all in all, I like this feeling of listening with others.

[Guitarist]

Just in the car on the way to work. Since I live only about 1.5 miles away, by the time I found something to listen to on my i-Pod, I'd be there! (Yes, sometimes I do ride my bike...)

[karlhenning]

I have not listened to the Radio for at least 35 years...

99.8% of the time I listen to the radio, I'm in the car.

Cheers,
~Karl

[Chalkperson]

Not even MY program, which can be received on your computer these days?

I have not listened to the Radio for at least 35 years...

I was talking about the traditional radio, of course I listen to your programs, but otherwise the closest I come are Podcasts...

[Seán]

Not even MY program, which can be received on your computer these days?

I have not listened to the Radio for at least 35 years...

I was talking about the traditional radio, of course I listen to your programs, but otherwise the closest I come are Podcasts...

as indeed we must.

[Jack Kelso]

I have not listened to the Radio for at least 35 years...

99.8% of the time I listen to the radio, I'm in the car.

Cheers,
~Karl

Same here. Or we hear the SWR2 Konzert zum Mittag----during lunch/dinnertime....provided the pieces they play do not contain more digestive sounds than that which we need for our food....

Tschüß,
Jack