English Folk Music
Posted by: Nigel Cavendish on 17 March 2003
Radio 3 Wednesday 19 March from 19.30 - midnight, try it.
cheers
Nigel
cheers
Nigel
Posted on: 20 March 2003 by Nigel Cavendish
Nick
Couldn't agree more. Here is what I posted on the R3 message board:
"Missed opportunity? Nigel Cavendish - 4th post - 20 Mar 2003 10:02
Given that there are so few programmes playing folk music of any kind, let alone that from the English tradition, I feel somewhat churlish in introducing a disapproving note here.
I listen to all sorts of music but I have been a folkie for 25+ years and a (now retired) Morris dancer for 23 years.
I suppose my problem with the programme is that it was not clear to me what the purpose of it was. If it was to enhance the understanding of committed folkies to the development of the tradition then it worked to a degree. If it was to promote the tradition to a wider audience and thereby to promote interest and consumption of folk music then I suspect it was an abject failure.
I know and love folk but even I found the talk-to-music ratio a real problem. I don't know the exact figures but it seemed like 3 1/2 hours talk and 1 hour music - and some of the music was of dubious quality. This would not encourage anyone to explore the tradition further, I suggest.
Nothing, in my view, speaks more eloquently of folk music than the music itself and this programme failed to capitalise on the opportunity it had."
cheers
Nigel
Couldn't agree more. Here is what I posted on the R3 message board:
"Missed opportunity? Nigel Cavendish - 4th post - 20 Mar 2003 10:02
Given that there are so few programmes playing folk music of any kind, let alone that from the English tradition, I feel somewhat churlish in introducing a disapproving note here.
I listen to all sorts of music but I have been a folkie for 25+ years and a (now retired) Morris dancer for 23 years.
I suppose my problem with the programme is that it was not clear to me what the purpose of it was. If it was to enhance the understanding of committed folkies to the development of the tradition then it worked to a degree. If it was to promote the tradition to a wider audience and thereby to promote interest and consumption of folk music then I suspect it was an abject failure.
I know and love folk but even I found the talk-to-music ratio a real problem. I don't know the exact figures but it seemed like 3 1/2 hours talk and 1 hour music - and some of the music was of dubious quality. This would not encourage anyone to explore the tradition further, I suggest.
Nothing, in my view, speaks more eloquently of folk music than the music itself and this programme failed to capitalise on the opportunity it had."
cheers
Nigel