What do we think of the new WQXR (105.9 FM)?
On the one hand, I'm delighted that classical radio has not perished in New York. On the other hand, the changes are noticeable and not entirely welcome. More popular classical music, fewer new works (or unfamiliar works by famous composers), personnel shifts, the loss of some favorites (Friday night's temple service, for instance): Change for change's sake does not equal progress.
At the same time, such is the fear in the marketplace at the moment that we must all bow before the god of populism.
The quality of WQXR is still there. But its current trend toward the tried and true is not a harbinger of good things to come.
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I think tried and true is great! What's wrong with tried and true. Would you really want to displace Beethoven to make room for the latest piece of squeaking, farting, so-called modern music? Not me. NOt to say there's not room for modern composers - film music is full of new symphonic compositions that challenge old musical orthodoxies while retaining the "tried and true" elements of harmoney, melody, and listenability. Too often those who eschew the "tried and true" are also eschewing the enduring musical ideas mentioned above only to substitute in their place untried and untrue musical oddities. So, I'm down with tried and true.
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