Re the 'Dismemberment' of CBC Radio Two

Cuts at CBC radio far too deep: writer

Letter to the editor and open letter to the CBC:
from the Orillia (Ont.) Packet & Times
April 3

Re: the dismemberment of CBC Radio Two

I am an active professional musician and educator, combining a career as a teacher at the secondary school (18 years) and university level (24 years), as well as being a choral director of several choirs and a tenor soloist, having performed (as a soloist) from coast to coast in Canada and in the U.S., Great Britain, The Netherlands and New Zealand.

I am writing to express my distress, and that of virtually all of my acquaintances, at the changes that have been taking place and those which are apparently scheduled for our national broadcaster, the CBC, particularly on Radio Two.

Since last March, when the first changes took place, I have been lamenting the loss of our "classical" evening programming schedule; this was a high quality service that included Music for Awhile (with Danielle Charboneau), In Performance (with the finest of Canadian live performances), and Two New Hours (true contemporary music with Larry Lake). The result is that evening radio has been deprived of the best of our Canadian classical type music culture.

In the last few months, I have also noticed that Studio Sparks with the veteran and knowledgeable Eric Friesen now includes excursions into the realm of commercial music, which is dominated by hype and unrealistic recording techniques, where whispery voices that would never be heard in the raw are amplified to dominate their orchestral or other accompaniment. The juxtaposition is extremely unpleasant, to say the least. This change can only have come as a result of directions from "on high."

Sunday, in the early afternoon, used to have a gem in The Singer and the Song. Catherine Belyea (and Shelley Solmes before her) was so knowledgeable. It has now vanished.

A couple of weeks ago, we heard the last broadcast of the ever informative Sound Advice. The music was good, too.

The CBC has been one of the features that we Canadians can brag about, a good reason for one to stay in Canada, both as a listener and as a performer. Its benefits to our Canadian culture, particularly with its radio programming, are unique and immense.

Radio Two has been its pinnacle and our jewel, combining musical satisfaction with education, supporting our arts community and promoting some of the best aspects of our culture and heritage.

The once proud Canadian institution that has contributed so much to Canadian culture is being torn apart. This is a Canadian disaster.

I hereby request that you reverse these changes and restore our once proud icon.

Albert Greer, conductor,

The Cellar Singers,

director of music,

St. James' Anglican Church