Get Sterndale Bennett on Radio 3 for Christmas!

[dave brum]

I shall be emailing Radio 3 Breakfast and asking them to play 'The Carol Singers' on the programme during the month of December. I think it's high time this song was revived as it's so witty and light without being too ribald or at all overpowering, a gentle humoured and well-written song, just the sort of thing we English love at Christmas!

[Gill the Piano]

Good idea; everyone who hears it says A) I never knew it existed and b) I love it!

[dave brum]

I've emailed them, so now its a case of listening out for it, and looking at lists of music played on the R3 website.

[gizzy]

Would you like back-up requests for the same thing? There was a recording of it by Ben Luxon and Robert Tear, I don't know if it's still available.

Meanwhile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv3LcXb6hns

[Gill the Piano]

They're excellent singers but not rough enough!

[dave brum]

Nothing yet. I've a feeling they'll play it on Christmas Eve.

[Gill the Piano]

Do they not reply to emus ever?

[dave brum]

R3 Breakfast reply instantly with an automated emale saying thank you for your original one. But there is someone at the other end, I've had stuff I've emailed read out by Sara Mohr-Pietsch, most notably in Piano Week last year, even James Rhodes heard one of my emails and had R3 contact me on his behalf. I had no idea whom he was at the time.

[dave brum]

Okay, I've had an email from a producer at Radio 3 telling me the song will be played as part of the Breakfast 'Advent calendar' on Christmas Eve.

However, she has also asked me if I'd like to be that morning's 'Your Call' guest to talk about the song. Honestly, I don't know anything about the song, or Thomas Sterndale Bennett to come onto Radio 3 and talk about the song. I only heard it last year. If I look up TSB on Wikipedia, the listenership will most definitely suss something and know I'm reading it and regurgitating it word for word!

I think someone like Gizzy is better qualified to talk about the song on Radio 3 than I am. I don't know what you think to that, Giz??

[Gill the Piano]

Can't you just say where you first heard it and why you like it and how you think it's a neglected masterpiece? Go on!

[dave brum]

No, no, no. I've already emailed the producer and declined her invitation, but informing her I know of someone in Cambridge who might do it. If this someone doesn't do it then so be it, but I know she's been on Your Call before because I've heard her talking to Sara Mohr-Pietsch about Noyes Fludde by Britten.

I certainly draw the line at making a chode of myself on national radio, especially a quality service such as Radio 3.

[dave brum]

No luck from Gizzy. She knows someone who would do it. The chain now has four links in it and it's all getting very complicated now. If nobody goes on the programme, we probably won't get our wish and there'll be no 'Carol Singers' on the Advent Calendar after all.

The protocol is that the requestee is contacted by the 3 Breakfast team to explain to Clemency Burton-Hill or whomever why they've suggested the piece/song in the first place. The Sterndale Bennett song doesn't even have to be part of the Advent Calendar series, it could just be slipped in to the schedule at the tail end of the programme or something. However I am rather hoping that if it is played, it's the Luxon/Tear version that Gizzy speaks of. May suggest that to the producer.

[dave brum]

Would be interesting to see if my wish has indeed been granted by Radio 3 this year, or if they decided to overlook it just because I chose not to come on the programme (Radio 2/Classic FM have 'shows' but we have programmes). Begins in five. Though I won't be around to hear some of it unfortunately I have to make a trip to my shop to pick up some stuff. I Player tonight definately.

[dave brum]

It was not played. I had my daily shower after the Advent Calendar slot at 0740 and it was not featured, however I've just checked out the playlist on the R3 website and there was nowt. There is a slight possibility it might be played tomorrow, however 'she who must be obeyed' (to plagarise John Mortimer) is home, and that means Radio 3 is banned. We'll have to wait and seeeeeeeeeeee.

[Gill the Piano]

Fingers crossed!

[dave brum]

Well, it is a simple enough request just to play a track. They don't need to telephone me to introduce it, talk about it or even mention my name. Just slip it in to the schedules and play it!

[dave brum]

Just checked. It seems Radio 3 did not play The Carol Singers this season even though at least I did get an email from a producer expressing an interest in my request. I wouldn't had thought that, even though it's a humourous and unconventional seasonal song, it would have fitted into Radio 3's schedules quite neatly.

[Gill the Piano]

The gits. You should ask Classic FM to play it - I bet they would!

[dave brum]

Classic FM's loyalties are to their advertisers not their listeners (and quite rightly for a commercial broadcaster) so they'll only play 'popular' things anyway. I caught Susan Boyle on there the other week. I might ask RTE Lyric FM in Ireland to play it next year but maybe the Sterndale Bennett is just too bleeding good to be shared with the hoi polloi anyway.