Jon Bernard writes:

>I believe I heard Ravel's Sheherezade and Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire,
>and was utterly captivated.  Why do classical stations avoid such
>immediately appealing music, or relegate it to times when the audience
>is guaranteed to be small?  (I ask this seriously.)

I have no interest in taking issue with Jon's view that the two above
works are immediately appealing.  However, classical stations prefer to
program music that is even *more* immediately appealing than the Ravel
and Schoenberg.  You know what I mean - music that sounds best on first
hearing and then deteriorates with each additional hearing.  Classical
stations rely on Vivaldi, light classical, arrangements, and cross-over.
Apparently, the Arbitron ratings tell them that this stuff is golden.
I feel the same about this as does Karl Miller, but I don't really want
to say more about a frustrating subject.

P.S.  - I rarely buy any non-classical music (nothing in the last ten
years).  However, I was browsing around the local Borders and heard a
very enticing song; the next song was great too.  I told the clerk I'd
like to buy the recording, and she flashed it in front of my eyes within
2 seconds.  Anyways, it's a recording by the singer/songwriter Patti
Scialfa titled "23rd Street Lullaby" - the label is Columbia and the
identification is # 90371.  The music tends to be a fusion of rock,
blues, and country.  Sounds quite similar to Rickie Lee Jones before
she ruined things by becoming more eclectic and profound.

My wife and I have very different musical tastes, but she also is bowled
over by the disc.  Actually, there is also a second disc that has three
live performances.  What do I know about Scialfa?  Nothing really, but
the photographs give a picture of a young lady who likes to look at her
own body and ride motorcycles - my kind of woman.

Don Satz
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