Reality check from the classical stations...

[Chuck(G)]

I still don't understand why anyone would want to listen to a solo tuba work. Must be this at work:

[Dylan King]

Is there anything that one could do to help get something else played beside the Classical Top 40, save for a request show (which KUHF/Houston as done late at night for many years)?

Doc

I guess one could petition their representatives for a government subsidized "all tuba, all the time" classical station in the name of diversity.

[Stefan Kac]

I've heard the Vaughan Williams concerto on the radio twice in the last few years. Then again, classical public radio in Minnesota definitely tends towards novelty (not that they necessarily look at it that way, but I do). I recently discussed the curious programming with a friend of mine who has lived all over the country. She has never heard anything quite like it (this was not a compliment). I'd rather hear Beethoven 5 one more time than some of the crap they pull out their you-know-whats.

[Rick Denney]

(which KUHF/Houston as done late at night for many years)?

When I was growing up in Houston, it was "Radio Station KLEF, because great music is better than good." Sheesh. No wonder they went belly-up. But they gave their library to U of H, and that's what gave KUHF its classical start.

But I never have listened very happily to classical music radio, because I like to hear pieces all the way through, and because when it's worth listening to, it's worth concentrating on, and if I'm going to concentrate that much on mere listening, I have my own Top 40 collection at my disposal. It distracts me at work, either because it's good or because it isn't. And in the car I'm more worried about the weather report, except on trips, when reception is too transient and my CD collection sounds better than XM.

Rick "who cannot listen to music passively" Denney

[TubaRay]

[I like to hear pieces all the way through, ...

Rick "who cannot listen to music passively" Denney

I agree with Rick. I tend to listen actively. So many people use music to go to sleep. Listening to music keeps me awake. Music at restaurants bothers me a little. I am usually trying to carry on a conversation and the music only gets in the way. For this, I have learned to cope, generally.

As for the classical music stations, I generally tend to listen to talk radio, etc., much more than I listen to classical. Don't get me wrong. I love classical music. I, like Rick, prefer to hear the pieces all the way through, and when I am able to actively listen.

[TubaRay]

Is there anything that one could do to help get something else played beside the Classical Top 40, save for a request show (which KUHF/Houston as done late at night for many years)?
Doc

I guess one could petition their representatives for a government subsidized "all tuba, all the time" classical station in the name of diversity.

That, my friend, is funny.

Why couldn't there be such a status? Look at the wide range of groups who claim to be minority. Here in San Antonio, I believe I should be called a minority. And then there is the matter of hate crimes. Don't even get me started on that subject.

So, to have an "all tuba, all the time" classical station in the name of diversity just might make sense. Now, I have to admit that I'm not so sure I would actually enjoy that, but it's an interesting concept, all the same.

[tbn.al]

Shameless plug for Sirius Radio. My last car purchase included satelite radio and I thought, "So what! I have NPR already." WRONG! They have a station that plays only classical full length works, Mahler included. They also have one for shorter works and opera and jazz and salsa and even my favorite, "Blue Collar Comedy" The CD player is now reserved exclusively for "Brass Music" because with 172 choices I still can't find any.

[Kevin Hendrick]

... I'm almost certain if a euphonium solo 'slipped' into the mainstream of this programming, no one would notice (or complain) except those of us in the know.

And we sure wouldn't complain!

[tubatooter1940]

With today's technology, a catalogue of tuba-only tunes is very possible. Sooner or later a service will be up and running with everything ever recorded by anybody playing or singing anything and a search engine that we can refine it's selections to tunes right up our individual alley.
I would pay well for that service if I could record what I want.

[eupher61]

I keep waiting for an all-brass channel www.live365.com there is a brass band channel but not solo or chamber.

[bort]

I like the classical station in Baltimore.

And I'm not bothered at all that I don't hear more tuba music on the radio. One of the main reasons I like listening to classical music on the radio is to get to hear some different stuff that I wouldn't listen to on my own. Of course I like to listen to tuba music, but I'd do that any day of the week. But on the radio I get to hear all kinds of other composers, some of them I know, some of them I don't.

On a slightly related topic, I remember driving to high school listening to an out-of-town AM radio station that had a mix of bible trivia and march music. Weird mix, but it was nice to hear band music on the radio.

[sloan]

With today's technology, a catalogue of tuba-only tunes is very possible.

It's called "iTunes".

[Chuck(G)]

My personal fav is Friday Favorites. The listeners get to email their requests to the host, Melissa Ousley.

Question to you all -- are you members? Do you support the service?

I support the local classical FM station, even though I rarely listen to it--my wife does, however. Like your MPR station, it has a "Listener's Choice" on Fridays, dedicated to playing requests.

http://www.kwax.com/

I don't much care for wall-to-wall "background" music types of listening--I guess that I'm of the same opinion as Daniel Barenboim. When I have listened to the local classical station, I find the "filler" music that's used to top off the end of an hour to be more interesting than most of the stuff played during the hour.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4883612.stm

[Rick Denney]

A general topic for this thread:

I find plenty of tuba music to listen to, at least if the provider in question plays much stuff composed after about 1850.

I didn't say solo tuba music.

Of course, I play tuba because I like the sounds tubas make within the ensemble. The effect tubas have on music is powerful and interesting. But as a solo instrument? That requires small doses, and even then only really appeals to a tuba crowd.

Two stories:

1. When shopping for hi-fi equipment about 20 years ago, I was asked by the shop owner to bring a couple of my favorite recordings. At the time, I'd been listening to Bob Stewart's new album (First Line Band I think it was), and so I brought it. As we were listening to it on the equipment I was auditioning, the shop owner looked puzzled. He asked me why I'd brought that particular recording. He didn't believe me when I said I thought it was great--and he didn't buy any answer I gave him until I told him I was a tuba player. That's when I realized it was really good--for a tuba recording.

2. When Sam Pilafian's Travelin' Light first came out, Ray and I sat in a car after rehearsal listening to it, each trying to justify our continued existance as tuba players. But I played it for another close friend, who was the program director for a radio station (not classical, but he was widely listened and he has good taste), and he expressed shock after the third tune, "Why, this is an actual album! You could actually listen to the whole thing."

Rick "happy making supportive sounds from the back row, and listening to others doing it well" Denney

[dtemp]

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/ ... es_played/

Just thought I'd let you know (at least in Minnesota), ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.

Check out April 20th, 1pm, and you will see the RVW concerto.

d(yeah...I requested it)temp

[OldsRecording]

Unfortunately, most classical stations know which side their bread is buttered on. It seems that fans of the Dead Germans have much deeper pockets then anyone else, so that is what they play the most of. Oh- and Copland's El Salon Mexico.