No More Classical Radio Article on Target
Don L. Leistikow, New Berlin
The article (No More Classical Radio) appearing in your December 27th issue, touched a nerve.
Obie Yadgar's thoughts and conclusions, are right on target.
I have been a loyal listener since WFMR was broadcast
from Wauwatosa, and did not carry very far.Giant strides have been made, including pumping up the wattage
output.Programs like Andre Reiu and
Jack Black orchestras were and are welcome listening material on PBS
televison.Is it possible to acquire
rights to broadcast these concerts, on radio?
A metro area, such as Milwaukee is, should not be denied
a full range of musical broadcasting, particularly when aired on public
broadcasting.
This reminds me of the loss of Metropolitan Opera which, as I recall, was carried for years by WMAQ Chicago on Saturday afternoons.There are plenty of sponsors with large advertising accounts, to even carry Classical Radio, be it on Commercial Radio or PBS network.
Personally, WFMR was always set up on the radio in my
automobile, a push of the button and I had wonderful and pleasing to the ear
music, instantly.Soothing to my ears
and a calming influence on my driving assured that I would arrive at my
destination, calm, cool and collected.
These days, my automobile radio is silent.
Do I drive the Freeway... only when necessary.Taking part in a massive display of motoring
that resembles the Indy 500, is not worth the risk and certainly not conducive
to calm, cool and collected disposition on arrival, anywhere. A review of an
old Disney film cartoon, depicts Goofy as a typical husband presiding over his
family as most of us do.But, when he
leaves for work, he becomes a wild, attacking and roisterous driver behind the
wheel.Weaving in, out and through
Freeway traffic in fruitless abandon, pursuing and never achieving the head of
the line, is his frantic and consuming challange.
Appropriately, I recall the old comic strip, Pogo....
wherein he is confronted with a seemingly impossible problem, exclaims;
"we have met the enemy, and he is us!"
My prefrences in Classical Music are principally
familiar, themed to waltzes, and emboldened works such as the Russians composed
that lift ones spirits and keep the blood moving, without destroying our
eardrums.
My dislikes are music that is seemingly without cause and composed for the single purpose of demonstrating each type of instrument.English compositions, for me, are too much brass and triple tonguing of trumpets.Salutes to the Queen, okay... that is expected but, for easy listening, no way.That turns me off, by that I mean my radio.
Another approach to bolster the radio audience would be
working in some wonderul music, so well composed for many Hollywood film
classics.I would think that would be a new
approach to widen a WFMR audience.The
introductory music of some of Hollywood's major productions, those which gave
us a few bars on all the music in the feature film, would also be of interest.
Frankly, I am thoroughly disgusted with surfing my AM/FM
radio for some decent music and finding only LOUD and boisterous SOUNDS, all
over the dial.
Bring back WFMR.. with a new format and I am sure that it
will attract more than 4900 listeners.More sponsors(contributors), too!
Don L. Leistikow... New Berlin,
WisconsinÂ



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