Gen Z reviving Classical Music?

[briancraig]

I’m also curious what was meant by semi classical.

The overnight show on WGN (Great Music From Chicago) in the 1970s with the great Jay Andres was described as a mix of classical, semi classical, easy listening and big band.

I believe the old American Airlines Music Til Dawn, which aired on many of the CBS O and Os, mixed in semi classical with classical.

Always wondered what an example of “semi classical” would be?

 

[TomásEstefan]

I’m also curious what was meant by semi classical.

The overnight show on WGN (Great Music From Chicago) in the 1970s with the great Jay Andres was described as a mix of classical, semi classical, easy listening and big band.

I believe the old American Airlines Music Til Dawn, which aired on many of the CBS O and Os, mixed in semi classical with classical.

Always wondered what an example of “semi classical” would be?

"Film Music"

 

[vchimpanzee]

... was not as good as a fifth of Chivas Blue.

Even worse (if one thinks it is bad), WERT (standards) plays "Hooked on Classics" and "Hooked on Tchaikovsky".

 

[vchimpanzee]

Some Miami station, maybe it was WVCG, used the term, Semi-classical.
I was too young to want to listen to them, so what did that mean?

That term was used a lot on beautiful music radio in the 60s.

 

[b-turner]

I recall comparing beautiful music stations back in the day before there was much else other than classical on FM. As painful as it was for me (loving top 40 as a kid) to listen for an hour, I recall a visit to Nashville where the paper had radio listings. There were a few Beautiful Music FMs at the time . WSM FM was listed in usual beautiful music terms adding 'lush orchestrations and semi classical'. Each quarter hour you got a 'known' classical selection like Clair de Lune, a waltz from Strauss, etc. I suspect there was lots of Mantovani and the like played.

Might semi-classical apply to classical by orchestras that mostly played pop favorites?

 

[semoochie]

That term was used a lot on beautiful music radio in the 60s.

Once again, I'm confused by something you've said. I was locked on to Top 40 for most of the '60s but didn't pay attention to "terms used" until the latter half of the decade, because I was too young to notice that kind of detail on my format of choice, let alone Beautiful Music. You're seven or eight years younger than I am! Even if you were force-fed Beautiful Music at a young age, it seems unlikely that you would retain something like that or even know it in the first place. Did you possibly read about this as an adult and this is an historical perspective?

 

[vchimpanzee]

Once again, I'm confused by something you've said. I was locked on to Top 40 for most of the '60s but didn't pay attention to "terms used" until the latter half of the decade, because I was too young to notice that kind of detail on my format of choice, let alone Beautiful Music. You're seven or eight years younger than I am! Even if you were force-fed Beautiful Music at a young age, it seems unlikely that you would retain something like that or even know it in the first place. Did you possibly read about this as an adult and this is an historical perspective?

Newspaper articles, and possibly Broadcasting Yearbook and sources like that.

I wasn't force fed the music. We didn't have an FM radio until 1977. I liked it in doctor's and dentist's offices and other businesses.

 

[KilowattKat]

Are there any commercial classical stations still on the air, other than WFMT Chicago?

The only other one I know of is KLEF 98.1 Anchorage, AK.

 

[semoochie]

Newspaper articles, and possibly Broadcasting Yearbook and sources like that.

I wasn't force fed the music. We didn't have an FM radio until 1977. I liked it in doctor's and dentist's offices and other businesses.

Thank you for taking this in the spirit it was intended. I always feel guilty when I bring up these things.

 

[TomásEstefan]

You can't "defunk" something that never had any funk to begin with!

Really ?...Check out the 2nd Movement of the Shostakovich 5th Symph. OR the 4th Movement of the Tchaikowsky 4th Symph. OR the finale of the 1812 Overture (has actual cannon fire). OR the finale of the Khachaturian Piano Concerto. Play these tunes loud! ..there are many many more...such as just about anything by Edgard Varèse...

 

[TomásEstefan]

I should probably clarify something I said on a previous post: Someone asked what is meant by semi-classical? I answered an example might be "Film Music"., Not quite right, "film music" at best might be considered a kind of "contemporary classical" (if that term is not contradictory).

Someone later characterized Debussy's Clair de Lune or Strauss walzes as semi classical, these are not semi-classical, they are classical albeit "light classical" because they are so well known. The "Beautiful Music" format are lush orchestrations of pop tunes played by artists such as Mantovani, et al and are in no way related to Classical Music. I think it's fascinating that David Eduardo said that many of the listeners to his Beautiful Music station called it "classical". But I certainly think it would very doubtful that listeners to his actual Classical Music station would even remotely consider his Beautiful Music station to be "classical.

 

[CTListener]

Really ?...Check out the 2nd Movement of the Shostakovich 5th Symph. OR the 4th Movement of the Tchaikowsky 4th Symph. OR the finale of the 1812 Overture (has actual cannon fire). OR the finale of the Khachaturian Piano Concerto. Play these tunes loud! ..there are many many more...such as just about anything by Edgard Varèse...

I suppose, though it's a stretch to think that Tchaikowsky and James Brown were working in the same musical realm!

 

[TomásEstefan]

I suppose, though it's a stretch to think that Tchaikowsky and James Brown were working in the same musical realm!

I understand what you mean! But what I was actually trying to say was that so many people who really feel like they don't "understand" classical music, think it's something you might hear in a funeral home or some such place. Instead of "Funk" a better word might be "Guts" when thinking of the compositions I suggested, although it might be interesting to hear a full symphonic orchestration of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (as long as James Brown's "Hey" is dubbed in at the end) !

 

[nd2023]

I personally think classical music is background music. It’s boring to listen to in the foreground. But that’s precisely why it’s good for background music. It’s calm and relaxing. It doesn’t distract you.

 

[K6JHU]

I personally think classical music is background music. It’s boring to listen to in the foreground. But that’s precisely why it’s good for background music. It’s calm and relaxing. It doesn’t distract you.

1812 Overture is background music. Finale of Beethoven's 9th is background music. Carmina Burana is background music. I don't think so.

 

[K6JHU]

I understand what you mean! But what I was actually trying to say was that so many people who really feel like they don't "understand" classical music, think it's something you might hear in a funeral home or some such place. Instead of "Funk" a better word might be "Guts" when thinking of the compositions I suggested, although it might be interesting to hear a full symphonic orchestration of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (as long as James Brown's "Hey" is dubbed in at the end) !

Actually that has been tried on several occasions. Maybe just not recently. Think 'Baroque Beatles' or Hampton String Quartet. I think the Boston Pops occasionally tries that, but I am not sure about recently.

 

[KeithE4]

Actually that has been tried on several occasions. Maybe just not recently. Think 'Baroque Beatles' or Hampton String Quartet. I think the Boston Pops occasionally tries that, but I am not sure about recently.

Or even from George Martin himself in 1964.

 

[CTListener]

1812 Overture is background music. Finale of Beethoven's 9th is background music. Carmina Burana is background music. I don't think so.

I tried using Sirius XM's Symphony Hall channel as a sleep soundtrack a couple of times. Dismal failure, as I'd never fully stop listening, waking up with a jolt with every change in tempo. Quickly went back to using a fan for white noise, and that's what I do most of the time now, although I have slept through hours of country music occasionally!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I tried using Sirius XM's Symphony Hall channel as a sleep soundtrack a couple of times.

If you want musical wallpaper, I suggest WICR/Indianapolis, when they aren't attached to Classical 24 (the local program is called "Classical Music Indy"). Possibly the blandest classical programming I've ever heard!

Most bad classical programming is local programming where the host has creative freedom and aren't very knowledgeable (hosts like me, who have mostly found themselves out of the business). But WICR isn't that.

At WICR, it's like they know what pieces a casual listener might know, and purposely avoid them. And if they do accidentally play one, it will be only a short snippet. It is rare to hear a piece longer than 10 or 12 minutes.

 

[TomásEstefan]

If you want musical wallpaper, I suggest WICR/Indianapolis, when they aren't attached to Classical 24 (the local program is called "Classical Music Indy"). Possibly the blandest classical programming I've ever heard!

Most bad classical programming is local programming where the host has creative freedom and aren't very knowledgeable (hosts like me, who have mostly found themselves out of the business). But WICR isn't that.

At WICR, it's like they know what pieces a casual listener might know, and purposely avoid them. And if they do accidentally play one, it will be only a short snippet. It is rare to hear a piece longer than 10 or 12 minutes.

In the past and sometimes today many "live" Classical stations would play just movements or very short works during morning and afternoon drive time, but complete works at other times.