After a night at the Proms, Tim muses on ‘bringing entertainment to the people’, the Olympics, and the local impact of national events.
Last night I was lucky enough to enjoy a night out at the Proms, the UK’s outdoor classical music institution. I was glad to get some great pictures of the scene (on WaveLength’s Pinterest page at https://pinterest.com/wavelengthtv/extraordinary-places/)
The Proms were created at a time of great change within the music and entertainment industries. Pushing forth with his mission of ‘bringing music to the people’, pioneer conductor and organiser Sir Henry Wood survived criticism of his arrangements ‘great hits’ of classical music by Debussy, Beethoven, Wagner and Elgar, and his decision to allow people to eat and drink while listening. Later, in the 1930s, the BBC’s coverage of the Proms faced fierce opposition by people who believed that the new technology for recording and replaying music would stifle the musical arts irretrievably.
We know now that these people were wrong. Recorded music – and now recorded film and TV – is an important and valuable part of many people’s lives.
Every year, the Proms bring a national cultural event to local homes, via TV, radio and internet broadcasting. They are is a true reminder of the power of modern media, which let people up and down the country unite in pride, enjoyment and inspiration.
Working at WaveLength, I’m very proud to be part of an organisation that is able to work at a local level, bringing national events to people all across the UK. Our beneficiaries, many of whom are unable to get outside for long enough to attend a busy, outdoor evening event like the Proms, get great value out of experiencing music, film, news, sports and information through our equipment.
The Olympic Torch Relay is another great example of the kind of local/ national participation that WaveLength tries to encourage, where real value is brought to local communities through increased participation in national organisations. We’re also excited about the launch of Radio 5 Live Olympics Extra next week. During the 2.5 Olympic weeks, this special temporary radio station will provide live coverage of events, with a particular focus on those important to Team GB! A guide to accessing Radio 5 Live Olympics Extra can be found on this site at https://wavelength.org.uk/News/988.
This year has been an exceptional one for this kind of participation, uniting the UK through huge events including the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. As we celebrate, I hope that others will join WaveLength in focussing on the local needs of people who can’t travel to Stratford or London Bridge, but who still want to feel involved with both their local communities, and with the nation. We’re proud to be a national charity, working and delivering at a local level.