Series: Compact Discoveries

Produced by Fred Flaxman

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


166 pieces

Order by: Default | Newest First | Oldest First
This serious composer's lighter side is featured in this hour.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WEPS, KAMU, KCSC, WQUB 90.3 FM and more


  • Added: Dec 22, 2008
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 14
Classical music inspired by reveries.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WCNH-LP, Jason Holland, WMRT, WPVM-LP and more


  • Added: Nov 03, 2008
  • Length: 00:56:56
  • Licenses: 10
A second hour of classical, classic pop and jazz inspired by the moon.

Bought by KENW, KAMU, KWAX, WCNH-LP, WXEL and more


  • Added: Jul 17, 2008
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 10
Another hour of great music by this Romantic Russian composer.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU, KWAX, WXEL and more


  • Added: May 29, 2008
  • Length: 00:58:56
  • Licenses: 11
Classical compositions by a composer more famous for his film scores.

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


  • Added: Apr 21, 2008
  • Length: 00:58:56
  • Licenses: 12
An hour of beautiful piano music by a young French-American talent.

Bought by KCSC, WUAL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KWAX, WCNH-LP and more


  • Added: Mar 08, 2008
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 13
Fred Flaxman presents new recordings of two film scores by Virgil Thomson.

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


  • Added: Feb 25, 2008
  • Length: 00:57:49
  • Licenses: 12
Beautiful Christmas music compact discoveries.

Bought by KCSC, WQUB 90.3 FM, KRPS, KCSC, KENW and more


  • Added: Nov 30, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 17

  • Added: Nov 16, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 10
Vocal, instrumental, choral and orchestral transcriptions of one of Rachmaninov's best melodies.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, KWAX, KCSC, WPVM-LP and more


  • Added: Oct 26, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 13
A program of first published compositions by Rachmaninov, Chopin, Grieg and others -- their Opus 1.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KCSC, KAMU, KCSC, KENW and more


  • Added: Oct 23, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 14
Fred Flaxman presents klezmer-inspired suites for symphonic orchestras.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WMRT, KAMU, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, WXEL and more


  • Added: Oct 15, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 16
A classical musical quiz.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, WXEL, KCSC, KAMU and more


  • Added: Aug 15, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 12
Highly tuneful non-operetta music written by Sir Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert & Sullivan.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, KCSC, KWAX, WSKG and more


  • Added: Aug 01, 2007
  • Length: 00:58:01
  • Licenses: 14
Music by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius and Saint-Saens inspired by swans.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KAMU, WXEL, KWAX, KCSC and more


  • Added: Jul 30, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 14
Beatles music played by classical and semi-classical ensembles.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KCSC, The Prairie Star, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: Jun 18, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 17
Music inspired by the summer season.

Bought by KAMU, KWAX, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KCSC, WSKG and more


  • Added: Jun 15, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 15
Sexy music by Respighi, Vaughan Williams, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Leroy Anderson.

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


  • Added: Jun 01, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:47
  • Licenses: 13
Two violin concertos by Belgian violinist/composer Henri Vieuxtemps are featured.

Bought by KAMU, KWAX, WSKG, KCSC, WRTU and more


  • Added: May 22, 2007
  • Length: 00:58:50
  • Licenses: 11
An hour of uninterrupted music inspired by the season.

Bought by KCSC, KENW, KAMU, WSKG, KCSC and more


  • Added: Apr 20, 2007
  • Length: 00:57:56
  • Licenses: 15