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 Duke bathes in the Classics!

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 17, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Jazzing up the classics in the Big Band era!

Bought by KENW, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 15, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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This is a pledge program in four segments needing local live or recorded studio cutaways.

Bought by KENW and KUCO


  • Added: Jul 14, 2009
  • Length: 40:51
  • Purchases: 2
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Tarantellas from many countries. Let's dance!

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 13, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Don't care for Wagner's operas? Then take a listen to this soaring romantic, passionate music without the singing!

Bought by WMNR, KALW, and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 11, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Melodious chamber music by a master of the craft!

Bought by WMNR and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 10, 2009
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 2

  • Added: Jul 08, 2009
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 2
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The romantic music of Clara Schumann.

Bought by WNMU-FM, WMNR, KPVL, KENW, KUCO and more


  • Added: Jul 04, 2009
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 6
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An hour of the French romantic composer's music inspired by foreign locations.

Bought by WMNR, KPVL, KUCO, and WMRT


  • Added: Jul 03, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 4
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An hour of beautiful music about beasts, which could have been called "Beauty and the Beast" except that that title was already taken!

Bought by KPVL, KUCO, and WMRT


  • Added: Jun 29, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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A humorous hour of music inspired by the animal kingdom.

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


  • Added: Jun 25, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5
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The best of the best music by Cesar Franck in one hour.

Bought by WMNR, KALW, KUCO, KENW, and WMRT


  • Added: Jun 15, 2009
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 5
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More lively melodies from this Soviet-era tunesmith.

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, and WMRT


  • Added: Jun 11, 2009
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Great melodies from a master of great tunes!

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, and WMRT


  • Added: Jun 10, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Out-of-the-box selections for July 4th.

Bought by WVIA, WUAL, KISU, WNMU-FM, WNMU-FM and more


  • Added: May 29, 2009
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 19
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Great musical selections by composers most people have never heard of.

Bought by KENW


  • Added: May 18, 2009
  • Length: 40:54
  • Purchases: 1
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Host Fred Flaxman demonstrates that the best music for back rubs depends on the kind of back rub you want. Different strokes -- and notes -- for di...

Bought by WQUB 90.3 FM, KAMU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WSKG, KUCO and more


  • Added: May 15, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
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An hour of uninterrupted, beautiful, romantic piano music.

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


  • Added: Apr 13, 2009
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 4
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An hour of romantic, tuneful music by 20th Century Mexican composer Manuel Ponce.

Bought by WMNR, KALW, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WMRT and more


  • Added: Mar 08, 2009
  • Length: 58:30
  • Purchases: 6
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Cold, snow-inspired and other winter music from Lully to Hoagy Carmichael.

Bought by KENW, KENW, KAMU, WMRT, and WEPS


  • Added: Feb 04, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 5