Culture .on the Air
The preliminary opinion of most far-sighted observers, when the B.B.C.'s third, or cultural, programme was first foreshadowed, was that it couldn't go wrong. The ways of gotod music and good litera- ture are better mapped and have fewer capricious turnings than the ways of light entertainment. The discovery of such rich territories as the ITMA programme and the Brains Trust did not come by taking thought, but by a process of fearful trial and dreadful error. But the discovery of Purcell or Milton lies open to the intelligent inquirer, and there is a great deal of intelligence at Broadcasting House, fettered and frustrated though it may be by the inertia of monopoly. The first few days have given about so per cent. of listeners (a suspicion is growing that it is rather less than 50 per cent.)- a very pleasing impression—an impression of embarras tie richesse rather than continuing poverty of listening material. At the moment everything remains in favour of the Third Programme. By its very existence it mitigates the effects of the B.B.C.'s monopoly, its material lies ready to hand, those responsible for its direction have declared their willingness to experiment (a refreshing contrast to the old B.B.C. vices of timidity and monotony), and listeners are given something which will repay the use of the highest critical faculties.
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