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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Two ballets by Richard Rodgers, the famous composer of Broadway musicals: "Ghost Town" and "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue."

Bought by KPVL, KUCO, KTRL, WMRT, and KENW


  • Added: Jul 30, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
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Lively, catchy melodies from Weber, Saint-Saens, Hummel and Mignone.

Bought by KPVL, KTRL, WMRT, and KENW


  • Added: Jul 16, 2010
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 4
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Charlie Chaplin not only wrote, starred in, directed and produced many of his films, he also composed the music, some of which became popular stand...

Bought by KPVL, KUCO, KTRL, KENW, and WMRT


  • Added: Jun 18, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
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Great orchestrations by Ferde Grofé of the music of George Gershwin!

Bought by WMNR, KPVL, KUCO, KTRL, KALW and more


  • Added: May 19, 2010
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 8
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Music by a master American tunesmith and orchestrator!

Bought by WMNR, KPVL, KUCO, KTRL, KALW and more


  • Added: Apr 23, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 6
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Tuneful pieces by living composers you've probably never heard of!

Bought by KPVL, KPVL, KUCO, KTRL, KENW and more


  • Added: Mar 11, 2010
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Six different delightful Scott Joplin tunes played in 14 different interpretations.

Bought by WNMU-FM, KPVL, KTRL, KUCO, and KENW


  • Added: Feb 17, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
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Fred Flaxman presents different versions of four of Scott Joplin's most famous rags.

Bought by WNMU-FM, KENW, WNMU-FM, KPVL, KTRL and more


  • Added: Feb 08, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Enjoy favorite love songs from Broadway musicals while you play "Name That Musical!" with producer/presenter Fred Flaxman.

Bought by KPIK-LP, KENW, KPVL, KTRL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX and more


  • Added: Jan 31, 2010
  • Length: 57:57
  • Purchases: 7
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The hour features Karl Goldmark's three-movement "Violin Concerto" and the first movement of his "Violin Sonata."

Bought by WMNR, KPVL, KTRL, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX and more


  • Added: Jan 25, 2010
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 7
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The very best of the music of Karl Goldmark!

Bought by WMNR, KPVL, KTRL, KUCO, KENW and more


  • Added: Dec 31, 2009
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 6
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The third and final hour devoted to the music of the Swingle Singers paired with the original compositions by Rossini, Debussy, Gershwin, Sondheim,...

Bought by KPVL, KUCO, KENW, and WMRT


  • Added: Dec 30, 2009
  • Length: 56:56
  • Purchases: 4
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The Swingle Singers do Bach -- alternating with Bach's originals.

Bought by KENW, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, and WMRT


  • Added: Dec 15, 2009
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 5
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The world-famous Swingle Singers take on Mozart.

Bought by KPVL, KUCO, WMRT, KENW, and Eclectic 89.1 WBCX


  • Added: Nov 18, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
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A devilish collection of unusual, fun pieces for Halloween.

Bought by KSQM 91.5 FM, WNMU-FM, KENW, KPVL, KENW and more


  • Added: Oct 02, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Mack the Knife and his gang return with Kurt Weill's famous songs.

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


  • Added: Sep 24, 2009
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 6
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Bring in the fall season with the classics and classic pop music!

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio, KENW, KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW and more


  • Added: Jul 22, 2009
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 7
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In this final "musical cities" hour, works inspired by the cities of Vienna, Warsaw, Moscow, Québec, Londonderry and Brussels.

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, and KENW


  • Added: Jul 21, 2009
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Music inspired by the Big Apple, from Gershwin to Villa-Lobos!

Bought by KUCO, KENW, and KENW


  • Added: Jul 20, 2009
  • Length: 57:51
  • Purchases: 3
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Favorite selections from a great male choir!

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 18, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4