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 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 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 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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Orchestral renditions of music from four of Richard Rodgers' most famous musicals: "Oklahoma!," "South Pacific," "The King and I," and "Carousel."

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


  • Added: Aug 10, 2010
  • Length: 01:56:02
  • Purchases: 5
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He wrote symphonies with the power of Mahler. He wrote popular rumbas, tangos, and waltzes. He was a Catholic who played the organ in churches. But...

Bought by KPVL, KUCO, and WMRT


  • Added: Sep 14, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Tuneful, romantic music by a little-known 20th Century American composer.

Bought by KENW, WMRT, and KPVL


  • Added: Dec 29, 2010
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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The story and tuneful music of America's most famous contemporary film composer.

Bought by KENW


  • Added: Jan 12, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
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The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra conducted by Erich Kunzel performs suites from John Williams' filmscores for "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter." Also inc...

Bought by KENW


  • Added: Jan 15, 2011
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Producer/presenter Fred Flaxman shares his latest compact discoveries: the music of the romantic Russian composer, Sergei Lyapunov.

Bought by KENW and KPVL


  • Added: Feb 16, 2011
  • Length: 59:20
  • Purchases: 2
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The Kurpfälzische Chamber Orchestra under Frank Zacher with pan flutist Ulrich Herkenhoff plays beautiful arrangements of film music by Ennio Morri...

Bought by KPVL, KENW, and KPVL


  • Added: Mar 09, 2011
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 3