General Lyric FM Discussion Thread

pconn062

Thought I'd set up a thread just for general comments on Lyric FM and it's programming, what you like about, shows you like, what you think they could do better.

My own opinion, I think they have some great content. I particularly like the JK ensemble (I know a lot of people don't like this show), Blue of the night, the Lyric Concert (especially on a Wednesday when they usually play more contemporary music) and their specialised shows including Jazz Alley (Love Donald Helme), Nova, Gloria on a Sunday morning and Reels to Ragas.

I don't really listen to much the rest of the time as there are only so many opera areas and musical numbers I can listen to!

My main gripe with Lyric is the continued dumbing down of the station. I never listen in the morning anymore for obvious reasons, and the shows during the daytime and drivetime now play less of the "big" names and longer extended works, but instead seem to focus mostly on opera, musicals and film scores. Also I don't like the fact that Lyric is used as a retirement home for RTE, somewhere to put their "stars" when they don't want to put them anywhere else.

Anyone else have any opinions on lyrics current setup?

PS: Preferably this thread is not for the discussion of Marty in the Morning, there is a seperate thread here for discussion on that show.

real rocker

I like the JK Ensemble also but think that Ellen Cranitch does a better jod when she stands in for John. The fact that John Kelly is restricted in his musical choices compared to his previous work on Radio 1 has an affect on his approach methinks.
As I present a jazz show myself I would agree in respect of Donald Helme and is Jazz Alley show although the show should provide more support to the Irish live scene. I understand that Donald spends a lot of time in Italy.

Gloria is a must on Sundays and the fact that Tim is also a big jazz fan is another plus.

I like Niall Carroll's presenting style also and Blue Of The Night is another winner.
In regard to the breakfast offering I don't mind the music but feel that the presentation is ill suited to an arts station. I can't imagine Terry Wogan presenting BBC Radio 3 ( or Classic FM ) breakfast show without a complete u turn in style.

jmcc

Is not so much a dumbing down as the management being rather badly suited to the station and making poor choices. There are some very good shows on the station but it is beginning to lose focus. Having the station become a dumping ground for RTE "stars" who cannot pull in the numbers on RTE1 or 2FM is not a good idea. The management seem to be mangling the station into some kind of middle of the road "classics" station rather than a Classical music station.

Regards...jmcc

Almaviva

I think it is indeed dumbing down. The scandal is that the management make no acknowledgement of this change of policy. JK is also ill suited to the the station. His undoubted knowledge of other sphere in music does not make up for his lack in the classical sphere.
Its impossible not to mention the Martian. His prescence and cringeworthy slapstich chat is the unmissable carbuncle for there is no excuse.

Almaviva

real rocker wrote: »

Jazz Alley show although the show should provide more support to the Irish live scene.

I wouldnt agree with this as it would make the show vulnerable to the same blight that besets Radio 4 with its policy of British and British contemporary - it simply plays too much music that is below par. State funded or not, the producers and presenters should have 'artisitic' independence and not feel a duty to something because it is domestic.

pconn062

real rocker wrote: »

I like the JK Ensemble also but think that Ellen Cranitch does a better jod when she stands in for John. The fact that John Kelly is restricted in his musical choices compared to his previous work on Radio 1 has an affect on his approach methinks.
As I present a jazz show myself I would agree in respect of Donald Helme and is Jazz Alley show although the show should provide more support to the Irish live scene. I understand that Donald spends a lot of time in Italy.

I agree about Ellen Cranitch being an excellent cover for JK, she is highly knowledgeable. I must admit though I kinda like JK and his slightly bizarre presenting style, the little jokes he makes that aren't really jokes and such as while he does put too much emphasis on certain artists (Keith Jarrett I know is a popular one!) I love the fact that I can tune in and hear a Bartok violin sonata, a Shostakovich symphony or some acid jazz in the middle of the afternoon!

real rocker

Almaviva wrote: »

I wouldnt agree with this as it would make the show vulnerable to the same blight that besets Radio 4 with its policy of British and British contemporary - it simply plays too much music that is below par. State funded or not, the producers and presenters should have 'artisitic' independence and not feel a duty to something because it is domestic.

I am not looking for Irish jazz to be played necessarily but surely a gig guide would not be too much to ask for particularly given The Irish Times elimination of this service from The Ticket. Lyric does promote live music events I know but jazz events should also be included in the station jazz offerings.

Almaviva

real rocker wrote: »

I am not looking for Irish jazz to be played necessarily but surely a gig guide would not be too much to ask for particularly given The Irish Times elimination of this service from The Ticket. Lyric does promote live music events I know but jazz events should also be included in the station jazz offerings.

Yes, agree with that alright.

jmcc

real rocker wrote: »

I am not looking for Irish jazz to be played necessarily but surely a gig guide would not be too much to ask for particularly given The Irish Times elimination of this service from The Ticket.

Interesting business opportunity there. I might even have the domain name.

Lyric does promote live music events I know but jazz events should also be included in the station jazz offerings.

It might be better done as a combined announcements and app.

Regards...jmcc

DownBeaten

Good thread, and hopefully it'll stay clear of the infantile "I heart X" garbage on the other Lyric thread.

As a music lover, there was a time when Lyric was always on in my house/car/office/headphones. That's certainly no longer the case, even when morning talk radio becomes too oppressive. The daytime schedule I find OK in that it's a reasonably pleasant mix of the classical hits plus the odd unusual piece. JK's mix I find strange some days, he seems to strive to a kind of balance whereby if he plays a long classical piece he seems to feel the need to match it with something entirely different. Some listeners seem to dislike Liz Nolan's scripted links, but I find her OK, and her enthusiasm rubs off some days. The evening mish-mash of being all things to all listeners with the random put luck of "what will we play today" ranging from diddly-idle, world, jazz, to whatever you're having yourself is the proverbial curate's egg.

In short, is Lyric living up to it's promise of an Irish-oriented Arts & Music station? At best 7/10. Must do better.

pwurple

I really enjoy of The Blue of the Night, Jazz Alley and Gloria. JK Ensemble is hit and miss for me. Sometimes I like what's played, othertimes not so much.

The rest of our family like Movies and Musicals with Aedin around Sunday lunchtime, and if up early, Classical Kids on sunday morning. They play Teddy Bears picnic and that kind of thing. 7am though... nearly trained our early riser out of it.

I'm not really into the traditional irish, so grace notes does nothing for me, but I understand it has it's fans.

Liz Nolan I like, and Trish Taylor.

I'd ditch George Hamilton's show and Marty Whelan.

pconn062

There was an excellent Lyric feature last Friday night if anyone caught it, entitled Musical Muses. All about Clara Schumann and the composers she influenced including her husband and perhaps more so, Brahms. Available online of anyone wants to check it out.

Mister Saturday night

Lyric has most presenters doing 3 and 4 hour shows now, A couple of years ago the lyric schedule was full of 90 minute and 2 hour programs.

Onthe3rdDay

Mister Saturday night wrote: »

Lyric has most presenters doing 3 and 4 hour shows now, A couple of years ago the lyric schedule was full of 90 minute and 2 hour programs.

Cutbacks. At one time Lyric had it's own newsreaders as well.

itsmybike

Hi All
I hope this is the right venue for this query:
does anyone know the French horn track played by Ellen Cranitch on the JK Ensemble on Friday 9 August 2013? Or does anyone know how I could find out?
itsmybike

'scorthy

I loved listening to Lyric FM in the morning 'til that £$%"^& Marty Whelan came on the scene. As soon as I hear his sickening smarmy voice I cring. As a result I now change to our local station in the morning and forget to don't switch back over to Lyric until JK arrives. RTE radio have great listening programs but some of their spent out presenters do them no favours.
Surely there are some good presenters waiting for the opportunity to shine. I'm sick of RTE using the same presenters for several radio & t.v shows. Let's see more new presenters!

Nice thread...

NorthDown2

I agree that Ellen Cranitch was a very good replacement for JK - I normally tune out, can't get into his programme no matter no hard I try. Radio was accidentally on from the morning run and found it engaging with her at the helm.

Glad to hear there are others who find the music at breakfast okay - I don't mind the patter, at least he can put sentences together without stumbling over words unlike one of presenters on another RTE station.

I do enjoy George, Movies and Musicals, Lorcan on Saturdays.Enjoy Blue too.
Does anyone have.a sample schedule from 3-4 years ago to see how the number of shows and range has changed since then?

Niall is good, Liz OK- can't hate her, but it's not 'must listen'.

Know others will have opposite views to this but it's my tuppence worth.

parasite

itsmybike wrote: »

Hi All
I hope this is the right venue for this query:
does anyone know the French horn track played by Ellen Cranitch on the JK Ensemble on Friday 9 August 2013? Or does anyone know how I could find out?
itsmybike

http://www.rte.ie/lyricfm/the-john-kelly-ensemble/programmes/2013/0809/467348-the-john-kelly-ensemble-friday-9-august-2013/

itsmybike

Dear parasite,
Go raibh míle maith agat!

Dear All
For what it's worth, here is what I like/dislike about Lyric shows:
JK Ensemble (Kelly or Cranitch: different people, different strengths)
Movies and Musicals (though sometimes there's too much Rodgers and Hammerstein type of stuff and I switch).
Nova
Marty Whelan: Dislike. At least he seems to be under instructions not to talk too much. I think they should work to get the Marty rate down to under 5 minutes per hour.

The Parish priest

Lyric has overtaken 2fm in the Dublin ratings afaik so they must be doing something right

strewelpeter

The Parish priest wrote: »

Lyric has overtaken 2fm in the Dublin ratings afaik so they must be doing something right

Where are you getting that from?

Would be surprised if the dumbing down of Lyric is doing anything much for their numbers outside the morning show.
All the specialist weekday programmes now gone the imbeciles running the station think that if they can turn the entire schedules over to Movies and Musicals the listeners will follow.
Clue: they wont.