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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Music by Chabrier, d'Indy and Canteloube.

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


  • Added: Apr 30, 2007
  • Length: 58:09
  • Purchases: 13
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Two violin concertos by Belgian violinist/composer Henri Vieuxtemps are featured.

Bought by WMNR, KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, KWAX and more


  • Added: May 22, 2007
  • Length: 58:54
  • Purchases: 14
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Discover Luigi Cherubini's beautiful "Requiem."

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


  • Added: May 28, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 19
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Sexy music by Respighi, Vaughan Williams, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Leroy Anderson.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, KWAX, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KUCO and more


  • Added: Jun 01, 2007
  • Length: 57:51
  • Purchases: 14
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Music inspired by the summer season.

Bought by WNMU-FM, WUAL, KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW and more


  • Added: Jun 15, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 21
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Beatles music played by classical and semi-classical ensembles.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KUCO, The Prairie Star, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: Jun 18, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 17
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More music for the birds. No -- music inspired by birds!

Bought by WXEL, KAMU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KUCO, KWAX and more


  • Added: Jun 21, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
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Rossini's delightful piano music as orchestrated by Respighi.

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


  • Added: Jun 23, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14
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Features movements from four "Beatles Concertos Grosso" and variations on "Hey Jude"

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


  • Added: Jun 28, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 15
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Seven gems from the romantic, impressionistic French composer.

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


  • Added: Jul 24, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 18
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Music by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius and Saint-Saens inspired by swans.

Bought by WMNR, KTRL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, WXEL and more


  • Added: Jul 30, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 16
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Highly tuneful non-operetta music written by Sir Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert & Sullivan.

Bought by WMNR, KTRL, KALW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU and more


  • Added: Aug 01, 2007
  • Length: 58:05
  • Purchases: 17
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A second hour of melodious, romantic French music by a master orchestrator.

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


  • Added: Aug 06, 2007
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 15
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A classical musical quiz.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, WXEL, KUCO, KAMU and more


  • Added: Aug 15, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 12
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An hour of music inspired by flowers, butterflies and bees.

Bought by KTRL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU, KUCO and more


  • Added: Aug 20, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 15
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The Symphony of the Americas conductor's recordings as guest conductor.

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


  • Added: Aug 27, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14
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Pieces selected to help people fall asleep.

Bought by KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU, WXEL and more


  • Added: Aug 27, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 17
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Piano music inspired by children, by Debussy, Schumann and Faure.

Bought by KTRL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, WXEL, KUCO and more


  • Added: Sep 08, 2007
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 15
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Fred Flaxman presents klezmer-inspired suites for symphonic orchestras.

Bought by KUCO, KTRL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WMRT, KAMU and more


  • Added: Oct 15, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 18
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Unusual, exciting and interesting endings of classical music pieces.

Bought by KENW, KTRL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WCPN, KAMU and more


  • Added: Oct 19, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 17