Reflections

Yesterday was, I understand, the sixtieth anniversary of that radio channel that began as the Third Programme, and became Radio 3.

In my youth the Third Programme was a welcome oasis of culture, and in terms of music and discussion in itself made British broadcasting the best in the world. Indeed, it was one of three channels, the other two being The Light Programme and the Home Service. The Home Service was supposed to represent middle England, but even so, its contents were often very interesting. You heard classical music and intelligent discussion. Indeed, the first piece of Schoenberg I ever heard was in a concert broadcast on the Home Service.

Today I heard my first piece of pop music on Radio 3. Admittedly, it was Japanese pop music (so it didn’t really count), but it is just a continuation of the process of popularisation that has destroyed the heart of this institution. Nowadays when you switch on, you are just as likely to hear jazz, or a musical, and I have become used to rapidly switching over to Classic FM, which, despite its fondness for the popular classics (what it calls ‘relaxing classics’), at least only broadcasts classical music.

No wonder the anniversary celebration was a low-key event. The program-makers should hang their heads in shame at what they have done to this radio channel. They have, as part of today’s general process of dumbing down, eviscerated something that was unique and valuable. To hell with them.