The Classical Music Format

[b-turner]

I know very little about programming Classical Music. From the perspective of a format, are there any out there that can offer some basics? What might be a good formula for more well known and lesser known composers. While many are NPR affiliated, I'm talking a non-NPR station. What non-music elements are most important? How about dayparting? Lengthier and more eclectic music at night? (eclectic might be something less mass appeal such as a work for harpsichord).

I suppose what I am asking about is flow. I understand orchestrated pieces rate highest and harpsichord or solo organ can send listeners fleeing as well as some vocal music. Many stations seem light on solo instrument, especially works exceeding, say 10 minutes. I can make no rhyme or reason out of known and lesser known composers to determine the 'flow'. For example, what is a basic percentage of known and lesser known composers, orchestrated versus solo or small group works? Is there a general formula as there is with other music formats? If so, what is that basic?

Here's what I can gather so far: there are two types of classical listeners: 1) casual: looking for more ambiance than anything else, really pleased with the low budget compilations on CD versus seeking out certain recordings. They are looking for familiar and 'sound likes classical' music. 2) purist: the serious classical listener seeking music adventure through hearing various orchestras and acclaimed versions of known works as well as hearing composers they may not know much about. These listeners seem to the the biggest bulk of the financial support. They demand the full work to be played while the casual listener could care less. Should one cater to the purist and catch some casual listeners by default?

One successful station (non-NPR) program director tells me aside from being involved in the local arts community and running numerous PSAs, the typical classical listener wants music. They add weather in morning drive but do not do traffic reports. They encourage jocks to talk about the works in a sentence or two (ie: knew this composer or that or was influenced by this or that work). They do what he terms a major work hourly and 'fills' with shorter works to fill the hour although this can vary in hours where, say a major work, mostly symphonies, are in the 15 to 20 minute range.

It seems many stations are fairly light on baroque and seem to feel more modern composers are avoided unless they might write music of the romantic era, for example. Am I off base?

In summary I'm just looking for some basic guidelines for building a classical format. Naturally every community is different.

 

[semoochie]

I know very little about programming Classical Music. From the perspective of a format, are there any out there that can offer some basics? What might be a good formula for more well known and lesser known composers. While many are NPR affiliated, I'm talking a non-NPR station. What non-music elements are most important? How about dayparting? Lengthier and more eclectic music at night? (eclectic might be something less mass appeal such as a work for harpsichord).

I suppose what I am asking about is flow. I understand orchestrated pieces rate highest and harpsichord or solo organ can send listeners fleeing as well as some vocal music. Many stations seem light on solo instrument, especially works exceeding, say 10 minutes. I can make no rhyme or reason out of known and lesser known composers to determine the 'flow'. For example, what is a basic percentage of known and lesser known composers, orchestrated versus solo or small group works? Is there a general formula as there is with other music formats? If so, what is that basic?

Here's what I can gather so far: there are two types of classical listeners: 1) casual: looking for more ambiance than anything else, really pleased with the low budget compilations on CD versus seeking out certain recordings. They are looking for familiar and 'sound likes classical' music. 2) purist: the serious classical listener seeking music adventure through hearing various orchestras and acclaimed versions of known works as well as hearing composers they may not know much about. These listeners seem to the the biggest bulk of the financial support. They demand the full work to be played while the casual listener could care less. Should one cater to the purist and catch some casual listeners by default?

One successful station (non-NPR) program director tells me aside from being involved in the local arts community and running numerous PSAs, the typical classical listener wants music. They add weather in morning drive but do not do traffic reports. They encourage jocks to talk about the works in a sentence or two (ie: knew this composer or that or was influenced by this or that work). They do what he terms a major work hourly and 'fills' with shorter works to fill the hour although this can vary in hours where, say a major work, mostly symphonies, are in the 15 to 20 minute range.

It seems many stations are fairly light on baroque and seem to feel more modern composers are avoided unless they might write music of the romantic era, for example. Am I off base?

In summary I'm just looking for some basic guidelines for building a classical format. Naturally every community is different.

This may seem somewhat cruel but one possible reason for a lack of traffic reports could be because fewer listeners are going anywhere.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

As far as classical goes, I'm only an observer, and have never hosted classical music.

The formula for an hour that you cite is indeed a common one - select a major work by Beethoven, Brahms, or Vivaldi, perhaps a work from a related composer, and then fill the remaining 15 minutes of time with a relatively unknown composer (say Weinberger) and a tone poem by Sibelius. You almost never hear any music composed after 1950.

Now here's my rules:
- Play all the segments of works you want. Yes it might upset some of the hardcore fans, but you're probably talking about dozens of listeners.
- Play no more than one song or chorale per hour.
- Play at least one well-known work per hour, especially during daytime hours. This work will often be short, for example a 4-minute piece from a film or a famous portion of an opera. The trick is to have enough of these to not burn them in a week.
- Play plenty of works for less than full orchestra to mix the sound up. This could be anything from a piano concerto to a piece for harp.

 

[vchimpanzee]

It has been several years since I heard WDAV in the Charlotte NC area at the dentist. But it sounded to me like they were playing a lot of brief works, like every other radio station there is playing music. A DJ would comment sometimes on the significance of the work or composer.

WMUU in Greenville SC was a Christian station and is still available online. During the day works are secular and range from just plain background music by orchestras or individuals to movie themes and Broadway. No long works unless there are concerts, but some of what they play sounds like "serious" classical music.