Sir, – The new signature tunes for RTÉ Radio have jarred with my carefully curated life routine. However, the final straw was Sunday morning with its habitual and predictable path, when we received an assault on the nation’s ears.
The new music for Sunday Miscellany is manufactured and lacks any meaningful connection to Ireland’s rich musical heritage. While the traditional signature tune was a baroque piece, it was instantly recognisable to the nation.
Any change should foster our cultural identity, our traditional music. Irish traditional music is a defining part of our cultural identity. For a national broadcaster, it is particularly disheartening that there is little to no trace of it in these new sound signatures.
Instead, what is presented now is tinny and generic, and could belong to any broadcaster anywhere in the world. This shift seems to overlook the importance of celebrating and preserving our indigenous musical traditions, something RTÉ has historically played an important role in promoting.
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Is it time for the Sunday morning ritualists to take to the streets? – Yours, etc,
AOIFE FARRELLY,
Trim,
Co Meath.
Sir, – It’s hard to believe but unfortunately it’s true – RTÉ has replaced the fantastic, inspiring signature tune of Sunday Miscellany that heralded Sunday mornings for generations with an insipid dirge more redolent of rainy days and Mondays and we know what they do to one’s mood.
To RTÉ’s director general, Kevin Bakhurst: please say it ain’t so and reverse this ridiculous decision.
It reminds me of knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. Don’t let the bean counters win. – Yours, etc,
JAMES STAPLETON,
Balbriggan,
Co Dublin.
