Introduction to the New Third Programme
Mar 26, 2013 6:03:44 GMT -5
Post by the Administration on Mar 26, 2013 6:03:44 GMT -5
The broadcasts of the original Third Programme (1946 to 1967) were directed at "the alert and receptive listener," and that phrase describes very well our intention in undertaking this revival. Persons of taste and discernment whose expectations are not being met by the current "Radio Three" will we hope find some remedy here.
Here is a list of our advantages in comparison with "Radio Three":
1) A commentary drawn from a variety of learned sources - if such are available - and consisting of text with musical illustrations will be displayed at appropriate points as the music is broadcast.
2) Since the glory days of the original Third Programme, the B.B.C. has increasingly encouraged listeners-in to take an interest in the persons and personalities of its announcers. I suppose that this has come about because they - the Corporation - are reluctant any longer to pay for the preparation of scripts by true experts. The new Third totally resists this tendency. All our commentaries will be direct quotations of, or paraphrases of, things that the best musical minds over the years have written.
3) Our listeners will no longer hear remarks uttered on the spur of the moment - no hesitation, deviation or repetition - no opinions, impressions or trivialities.
4) Beyond dates of birth and expiry, there will be little biographical information in our commentaries, which will for the most part be confined to an analysis of each musical art-work itself and to a description of its composer's intentions in writing it.
5) In a number of instances the complete musical score of the work will be displayed as the music is broadcast. An entire experience of this kind is I believe the way of the future.
6) It should go almost without saying that our concerts will never contain single movements torn - in obtrusive defiance of the composer's intention - out of larger works.
7) Most of the items we broadcast will be little-known and seldom-performed - rare works, not part of the well-worn repertoire. There are hundreds upon hundreds of composers whose existence has been forgotten, and we hope here to be able to revive a good many reputations.
8) A permanent forum is provided so that listeners-in may contribute their observations about each of our broadcasts.
9) People are not obliged to listen at any scheduled date and time; our broadcasts will be available whenever the opportunity is convenient.
10) All our broadcasts may be down-loaded, saved and played later, over and over again.
11) Any one is free to request the incorporation of items in our future programmes; and provided that suitable source materials are available, the fulfilment of such requests will be undertaken with promptitude.
12) And last but certainly not least - contributions are invited from
Interested listeners may obtain our broadcasts in two ways - either
For each case a web-link will be provided in the programme guide.
Here is a list of our advantages in comparison with "Radio Three":
1) A commentary drawn from a variety of learned sources - if such are available - and consisting of text with musical illustrations will be displayed at appropriate points as the music is broadcast.
2) Since the glory days of the original Third Programme, the B.B.C. has increasingly encouraged listeners-in to take an interest in the persons and personalities of its announcers. I suppose that this has come about because they - the Corporation - are reluctant any longer to pay for the preparation of scripts by true experts. The new Third totally resists this tendency. All our commentaries will be direct quotations of, or paraphrases of, things that the best musical minds over the years have written.
3) Our listeners will no longer hear remarks uttered on the spur of the moment - no hesitation, deviation or repetition - no opinions, impressions or trivialities.
4) Beyond dates of birth and expiry, there will be little biographical information in our commentaries, which will for the most part be confined to an analysis of each musical art-work itself and to a description of its composer's intentions in writing it.
5) In a number of instances the complete musical score of the work will be displayed as the music is broadcast. An entire experience of this kind is I believe the way of the future.
6) It should go almost without saying that our concerts will never contain single movements torn - in obtrusive defiance of the composer's intention - out of larger works.
7) Most of the items we broadcast will be little-known and seldom-performed - rare works, not part of the well-worn repertoire. There are hundreds upon hundreds of composers whose existence has been forgotten, and we hope here to be able to revive a good many reputations.
8) A permanent forum is provided so that listeners-in may contribute their observations about each of our broadcasts.
9) People are not obliged to listen at any scheduled date and time; our broadcasts will be available whenever the opportunity is convenient.
10) All our broadcasts may be down-loaded, saved and played later, over and over again.
11) Any one is free to request the incorporation of items in our future programmes; and provided that suitable source materials are available, the fulfilment of such requests will be undertaken with promptitude.
12) And last but certainly not least - contributions are invited from
- a) amateur musicians (soloists, chamber groups, orchestras or choirs);
- b) people wishing to give a spoken talk, or series of talks, on some serious subject in the style of the Reith lectures; and
- c) people who would like to give poetry readings.
Interested listeners may obtain our broadcasts in two ways - either
- 1) by down-loading the original unaltered video and watching it with the help of a player such as Winamp or VLC (recommended), or
- 2) by watching the broadcast on-line in a browser.
For each case a web-link will be provided in the programme guide.