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 [log in to unmask]