Compact Discoveries

Series produced by Fred Flaxman

Series image

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.

Hide full description

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
Piece image
Fred Flaxman presents new recordings of two film scores by Virgil Thomson.

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KWAX, WCNH-LP, KENW and more


  • Added: Feb 25, 2008
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 12
Piece image
Final program of three devoted to the music of this Romantic American composer.

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WCNH-LP, KENW, KWAX and more


  • Added: Jan 24, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 12
Piece image
A second hour of beautiful music by this Romantic American composer.

Bought by KUCO, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW, WCNH-LP, KAMU and more


  • Added: Dec 31, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
Piece image
Beautiful music by a short-lived Romantic Era American composer.

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, WQUB 90.3 FM, KENW, WCNH-LP and more


  • Added: Dec 19, 2007
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 14
Piece image
Beautiful Christmas music compact discoveries.

Bought by KCME, WUAL, WUAL, KRZA, WVRU and more


  • Added: Nov 30, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 29
Piece image
Ernest Bloch's greatest hits as selected by producer/guide Fred Flaxman.

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


  • Added: Nov 21, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14

  • Added: Nov 16, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
Piece image
How to introduce children to the classics.

Bought by KTRL, Jason Holland, KUCO, WXEL, WUFT and more


  • Added: Nov 12, 2007
  • Length: 57:19
  • Purchases: 14
Piece image
Fred Flaxman presents his picks of the most tuneful orchestral music by Richard Strauss.

Bought by KTRL, WUFT, KUCO, KAMU, KWAX and more


  • Added: Nov 08, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
Piece image
The music of R. Strauss for those who can't stand R. Strauss.

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


  • Added: Nov 01, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
Piece image
Violin and cello concertos by "the Chinese Rachmaninov."

Bought by KTRL, KAMU, KUCO, WPVM 103.7, KENW and more


  • Added: Oct 29, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14
Piece image
Vocal, instrumental, choral and orchestral transcriptions of one of Rachmaninov's best melodies.

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


  • Added: Oct 26, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 15
Piece image
A program of first published compositions by Rachmaninov, Chopin, Grieg and others -- their Opus 1.

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


  • Added: Oct 23, 2007
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 16
Piece image
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
Piece image
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
Piece image
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
Piece image
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
Piece image
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
Piece image
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
Piece image
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