Requiem to music

CBC Radio 2 is changing its programming away from Classical music. A top hits Classical program will still run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the fabulous Bill Richardson will host opera and concert segments on weekends (who listens to radio on weekends?), but jazz, blues, world and singer-songwriter genres will govern the morning and drive-home time blocks. Evening time slots already went to hell a year ago.

Besides being ad-free, CBC has provided thoughtful commentary and interviews with various artists. Over the years, I have gathered inestimable appreciation and knowledge of music. I remember, for instance, how my awareness and love of Ralph Vaughan Williams' works arose from CBC.

How am I supposed to tune my clock alarm for that delicious half hour in bed each morning? Jazz and blues is alright, but not then. The new programs will begin on Tuesday. It makes me sick. From now on, the world will be colder and drier, the air less sweet.

At least I have today, working alone in the shop with nothing to distract me, to absorb one final day of the best Classical programming that will ever hit Canadian airwaves.