Compact Discoveries

Series produced by Fred Flaxman

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One-hour unusual, audience-appealing, theme-driven classical music programs.

Compact Discoveries (R) is a series of one-hour, classical music radio programs, which, true to its title, introduces listeners to some of the most exciting and unusual compositions to be found on compact discs.

The approach is relaxed, informal and light. The presenter -- award-winning writer/producer Fred Flaxman -- shares his love of music and sense of discovery like one friend talking to another.

Fred sometimes uses humor, sound effects, personal essays, clips from old-time radio programs, and non-classical music to make his theme-based hours interesting and fun. The music is always carefully selected to appeal to the widest possible audience for classical music and to attract new listeners to the genre.

Fred's amusing themes range from "Brazilian Beats" and "Discs for Dishwashing" to "Musical Gardens" and "Best Music for Back Rubs." The programs often feature little-known composers who have written pieces that people will like on first hearing, such as Ernesto Nazareth, Kurt Atterberg, Rene Touzet, Clara Schumann, Cecile Chaminade, Tyzen Hsiao and Joaquin Nin.

Maximum scheduling flexibility is achieved by considering these programs as one-hour building blocks. They can be scheduled one or more times a week; they can be scheduled back to back to create two or three-hour blocks. Fred doesn't say "this program" when he's talking; he says "this hour," making stacking easy. Also, the program/hours are evergreens, except for those created for specific holidays and seasons of the year.

The series began as a local program on WXEL-FM, West Palm Beach, Florida. It was quickly picked up for national distribution via satellite by one of the nation's most prestigious radio syndicators. The series switched to less expensive, more convenient PRX distribution via the internet on Jan. 1, 2006.

Broadcast by stations from Manila in the Philippines to Eugene, Oregon, to West Palm Beach, Florida, the response of listeners has been 100 percent positive. For more information, including short descriptions and complete scripts for each program, go to www.compactdiscoveries.com.

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Compact Discoveries (R) is a series of one-hour, classical music radio programs, which, true to its title, introduces listeners to some of the most exciting and unusual compositions to be found on compact discs.The approach is relaxed, informal and light. The presenter -- award-winning writer/producer Fred Flaxman -- shares his love of music and sense of discovery like one friend talking to another.Fred sometimes uses humor, sound effects, personal essays, clips from old-time radio programs, and non-classical music to make his theme-based hours interesting and fun. The music is always carefully selected to appeal to the widest possible audience for classical music and to attract new listeners to the genre.Fred's amusing themes range from "Brazilian Beats" and "Discs for Dishwashing"... Show full description


253 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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The two finest examples of Brahmsian clarinet chamber music not written by Brahms.

Bought by KUCO, KAMU, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW, WSKG and more


  • Added: Jun 20, 2006
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 16
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Highlights from the group's first four compact discs.

Bought by KTRL, KAMU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WRTU, KUCO and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2006
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 18
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Features a star-studded program broadcast on the eve of the first anniversary of Gershwin's death.

Bought by WMNR, KENW, KENW, WMRT, KAMU and more


  • Added: Jul 02, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 19
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The melodious music of Ernesto Lecuona, known as "the Cuban Gershwin."

Bought by WMNR, KENW, WMRT, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: Jul 10, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 16
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Music which, in color or mood, is blue, according to its title.

Bought by KENW, KUCO, KAMU, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW and more


  • Added: Jul 13, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 19
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Host Fred Flaxman serves as judge and jury for a mock competition to find the best compositions in his personal collection with colors in their tit...

Bought by KENW, KUCO, KAMU, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW and more


  • Added: Jul 24, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 19
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Classical, popular and jazz music inspired by railroad trains.

Bought by KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, KUCO, WQUB 90.3 FM and more


  • Added: Aug 07, 2006
  • Length: 58:54
  • Purchases: 27
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Music inspired by our feline friends from the Baroque period to the beginning of the 20th Century.

Bought by KUCO, KAMU, WPVM 103.7, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW and more


  • Added: Aug 13, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 18
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20th Century music inspired by our feline friends, and in one case, composed by a cat!

Bought by KUCO, KAMU, WPVM 103.7, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW and more


  • Added: Aug 18, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 20
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The jazzy music of Paul Schoenfield.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU, WQUB 90.3 FM, WSKG and more


  • Added: Aug 19, 2006
  • Length: 57:52
  • Purchases: 13
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The harp and flute concertos of this romantic German composer.

Bought by WMNR, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KUCO, KAMU, WQUB 90.3 FM and more


  • Added: Aug 25, 2006
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 19
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Fred Flaxman presents a selection of rose-inspired music.

Bought by KENW, KUCO, KAMU, KENW, WSKG and more


  • Added: Sep 03, 2006
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 17
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Kalinnikov's early death prevented him from writing more than two great symphonies.

Bought by WMNR, KALW, KAMU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WSKG and more


  • Added: Sep 09, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 16
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A pledge event program with local cutaways designed to trick and treat listeners into contributing to their local public radio station.

Bought by KAMU, KENW, WSKG, KUCO, WQUB 90.3 FM and more


  • Added: Sep 13, 2006
  • Length: 52:50
  • Purchases: 11
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The music of French composer Charles Valentin Alkan is introduced.

Bought by WMNR, KAMU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WSKG, KUCO and more


  • Added: Sep 18, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14
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Pianist/band leader Carmen Cavallaro jazzes up the classics.

Bought by WMRT, KAMU, KUCO, WSKG, KUCO and more


  • Added: Sep 24, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14
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Host Fred Flaxman explores classical music used as themes of radio and TV programs.

Bought by WUAL, KENW, WMRT, KAMU, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo. and more


  • Added: Sep 25, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 17
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There's lots of music for Christmas, but what music goes with Hanukkah? Host Fred Flaxman has some answers.

Bought by WTIP, WUAL, KRPS, NPR Illinois, KENW and more


  • Added: Sep 28, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 25
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Beautiful, but rarely heard, music by the great French composer.

Bought by WMNR, KALW, WMRT, KAMU, WPVM 103.7 and more


  • Added: Oct 01, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 16
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Music from the ballet "Dracula" by Anthony DeLorenzo, performed by Proteus 7.

Bought by KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WMRT, KWAX, KENW and more


  • Added: Oct 19, 2006
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 19