On the new classical WETA

I am ecstatic that WETA, my former employer, is returning to a classical format. They will be 23/7* classical, taking up the mantle of WGMS, which has been on the air in Washington, DC for over 50 years. WGMS was commercially owned by Bonneville International, and they had really good ratings a couple of years ago (going up to #3 or 4 in the market), and even after they switched the station to a lower-powered signal, their ratings were still respectable for an all-classical station. But as of last Monday, they changed their format to a popular mix format, dubbed “George 104″. For the full story, please check out
DCRTV or the Washington Post.

* = I say 23/7, because the one hour that is not classical is weekdays 7-8 pm for the Newshour with Jim Lehrer (produced across the street from WETA and taped in the WETA production center). Why this hour and not another show? Only SR knows.

Is music listening for enjoyment or discovery?

Yes it’s been awhile…

With my busy schedule and preoccupation with folk music this last year, I have been somewhat ignoring my classical music listening. Now by that I don’t mean that I haven’t been listening to radio stations (over the air or online), but I really haven’t been actively seeking out new recordings or keeping up with the latest recordings. (Which was a lot easier when I worked at a classical radio station and had to catalog all of the latest). Well, a chance purchase of Gramophone has sort of revitalized my interest. I have been going through a debate in my mind over how I am going to consume music, in addition to making it actively. Either by recordings or radio. I have been satisfied by the latter, esp. in ther performance aspect; but very few stations give the variety I seek. Sometimes I want plain folk music, sometimes Celtic, sometimes orchestral, sometimes choral, sometimes barbershop, band, etc…you get the picture.

There is also my classical CD collection which has been largely ignored, since I’ve been working again. It is a good reference source, but there are some major holes which I don’t really have the time to plug in. As good as it is, it’s not a source for discovery for new or unheard compositions. So, I bit the bullet yesterday and subscribed to Naxos. I could have gone for Web Radio, with all of its many channels, but I went for the on-demand service for $19.95/yr. Do I get downloads? No, but I get streaming on-demand for any of their recordings (and their subsidiary labels).
That should suffice for work. Plus I think it’ll help at work, when I need to identify works which I think I have an idea what it is, but I don’t have easy access to a recording. On the broadband connection at work, it sounds really good.

Which brings up the issue of compression. Yes, it uses it. iTunes uses it. Everyone does–some better than others. In my everyday life, it doesn’t bother me (except when I notice). But I can live with it. I don’t regularly strive for aural perfection, because it’s a moving target. But I don’t like walking around with personal music devices. I don’t think one should be in public and walk around with them. I like to engage (or ignore) at will, and earbuds are a barrier. I’m also addicted to high quality, comfortable headphones which cushion the ear, rather than buds which stick right into the ear (not comfortable to me). So, I have many issues with Eyedevices of all ilk. But I want access to music when I’m doing other things. If I’m at home that can be my stereo system, but again I’m not home that much these days and it’s a pain to schlep CDs to multiple computers. So now, if I want to listen to Brahms’ 3rd violin sonata, I can punch it up on Naxos, and listen to it whenever and wherever I want (if a web connection is available). For other times, I can download a copy on iTunes or track down a cheap CD copy. In the car, radio and CDs work best, and I don’t tend to listen to classical music CDs in the car. That’s what works best for me right now. Okay, enough random thoughts for the day…time for other tasks.

Here’s an article from the Christian Science Monitor on whether compressed music is good enough, for further thought:

“Thousands of songs in your pocket: An audiophile’s nightmare?
Will consumers who demand portable music always have to compromise on sound quality?”

And this shall be for music

I have more to write this week about singing, but let’s start with this quote by Abraham Joshua Henschel from his 1973 work A Passion for Truth. This weekend’s highlights included participating in an all-day singing convention of Sacred Harp singers in Great Falls, and attending the Washington Concert Opera’s production of Tancredi.

Answers to the ultimate perplexity can not be expressed in words. Response is facilitated by song. Singing is not the mere repetition of notes or even the expression of joy or sorrow. Singing means uplifting all of existence to the level of perfection. Singing means raising oneself above all words and all ideas to the realm of pure thought. One cannot truly sing by repeating an old melody. God loves novelty…one must sing a new song each time.

n.b.: The title of today’s post comes from a short choral work by American composer Ron Nelson which I sang in high school.