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Bellows Falls Police Cameras / Martha Graham Dance
listen:
  A small village in Vermont is getting a lot of attention because the police chief wants to install 16 security cameras around town. We'll talk with Bellows Falls Chief Keith Clark about his proposal and the criticism he's facing because of it. Also, 2006 marks the 80th anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company, and the group is debuting a celebratory performance of the occasion in Keene. We'll talk with Artistic Director Janet Eilber about the impact Graham had on the American concept of dance.
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I enjoyed the conversation with Janet Eilber about Martha Graham, particularly Graham’s correspondence with Aaron Copeland regarding what eventually became the incorporation of “Tis the gift to be simple†as the central theme in Appalachian Spring – it’s fascinating to see something of the genesis of a classic. I’d like to offer one gentle criticism, however. At the end of the segment we were told that we would hear of bit of the bride song from A.S.; what followed was the merest wisp of melody barely discernible behind a loud voice announcing – well, I don’t remember what it was announcing, because I was trying to hear around it to the music that had been elbowed aside. I felt very much as I do when the audience in a theater stands up and starts to leave after a movie while I’m trying to read the credits (I suppose I’m odd for liking to read credits – but there it is, I do; they can be interesting!). It really would have been better to have left out the music entirely.
I should point out that “The Front Porch†is not unique in this treatment of “classical†music on WEVO. The day before on “The Exchangeâ€, at the end of a program devoted to Mozart’s birthday, Ms. Knoy said they would go out with the end of the “Requiemâ€; and they did – we heard the last chord! OK, maybe it was two chords – fighting with the voice-over announcer.
In fairness, there was a good deal of lovely music played on the Exchange program, but at the end, as with the Front Porch, heavy-handed WEVO boilerplate format crashed in, spoiling what could have been lovely, if short. I don’t know if this reflects a general attitude towards music that went into effect after classical music was banished from WEVO some years ago. I doubt very much that Ms. Zeller shares such an attitude, since I’ve had the pleasure of hearing her sing. In any event, when it comes to attempts at grace at the end of programs, this is a case of too little being worse than none.
Music on the Front Porch
Hi there -- this is Andrew Walsh. I'm one of the producers on the show. Thanks for adding your comments.
I agree that too often people talk over good music on the radio. As often is the case, this happened on the Front Porch Friday because of time constraints. We had so much to talk about that we ran out of time and weren't able to let the music breathe as much as we'd like to.
As a rule, we are trying to reverse a trend of talking over music too much on our show. We're playing full songs whenever possible -- sometimes in conjuntion with interviews, other times simply to introduce people to new music they might not get to hear anywhere else on the radio.
Sorry we weren't able to do this on Friday -- but your point is definitely well-taken. Thanks!