LISTENERS COMMENTS
In order to make this website balanced, we include views shared by many listeners.
Over the last 10 years or so The BBC Radio 2 programme The Organist Entertains has gone from bad to worse. Someone in charge has dictated that they will now only play Classial and Theatre Pipe organ music. Anything electronic and popular has been banned. As a result the popularity of the programme has plummited and unless things change I'm sure the BBC will just drop the show. If you want to hear more popular and electronic organ music in addition to Theatre and Classical Pipe organ, then please sign the petition below* and we will try and make a change. Remember it is OUR BBC and OUR radio show.
Chris Jones
* https://www.petitions24.com/does_the_organist_entertains_on_radio_2_do_more_har
It is alleged that Nigel Ogden was only permitted to play and present pipe organ music by the powers that be at the BBC, and his producer.
At one time the programme included music played on electronic organs, what Robin Richmond called 'home plug-ins’, and as a result the programme was more entertaining as listeners related it to the instrument they had at home.
It is likely that the BBC, and Nigel's producer, were influenced by the Musicians' Union
(MU) because as everyone knows the modern electronic organ can sound like an orchestra and a big band. The Union certainly did not like the thought of a single instrument putting their members out of work.
Although many professional electronic organists are members of MU, it must be said that the Union thinks the electronic instrument should only produce organ sounds, like
that of the original Hammond Organ.
Because of the alleged restriction by the BBC, the programme lost listeners, especially when it was moved to the late night spot.
It is time for the BBC to drop this blinked attitude and realise what listeners want and not what the MU want. The MU must realise that this is a specialised programme and in no way threatens the livelihoods of some of their members.
Phil Johnson
Nothing stops the same for ever and that applies to listeners likes in music, The Organist Entertains played music from a past era and, in recent years, did not include the music produced by modern electronic organs.
The styles of music, light middle of the road, played by the majority of present day organists and keyboards, would be ideal for listening at any time of day and particularly for late drive time slots.
Sadly the BBC has not catered for the majority of listeners as far as keyboard music is concerned. Non-vocal music can be so relaxing while driving, and to those at home, especially at bed time.
It is only by presenting these views and giving feedback to the BBC that perhaps one day the penny will drop.
John Phillip
It is a shame to see this programme end after so many years of bringing back lovely memories of the golden years of the cinema that the youth of today never experienced.
It was just a pity it was on so late at night, which forced me to listen to it on iPlayer.
I am aware that the BBC has many channels and hope that the programme will turn up on one of them in the future. I believe that one channel should feature specialist music programmes, including one for the home organist, like myself.
Suzanne James
As one door close another one will open - but where and when remains to be seen. I just hope the BBC will cater for home keyboard players .- there must be millions of them.
Charlie Brown
In an attempt to make a suggestion to the BBC I was shocked to receive the following reply:
"I'd like to clarify the BBC is more than happy to receive feedback on its output where the public feel we could do better but we aren't in a position to entertain programme ideas from the public as we do not have the resources to review ideas and enter discussion about them.
If you're offering feedback then by all means you can write to us at our postal address or use our complaints or comment webform to submit your feedback and it will be included on our overnight report for the relevant personnel. We do not use email addresses, this is to ensure all contacts from our audience are logged and tracked centrally, this has helped us to reduce the amount of spam we receive and improved our reporting of audience reaction to BBC personnel, including programme makers and senior staff."
Please use our postal Address:
BBC Audience Services
PO Box 1922
Darlington
DL3 0UR
..............Caoimhe Grey
