Mailbox
In Mailbox today: Sunday Music Show, Radio Prague's annual competition, the National Library, what happened to internet "live broadcasts". Listeners quoted: Stephen Hrebenach, Bob Boundy, Meng Cheng, Julius Angelo Colaco, Gerwyn Roberts.
Stephen Hrebenach from the US state of Ohio writes:
“I have really enjoyed the past three weeks of the Sunday Music Show. And it got me to wondering whether you could add a listing of the songs (recordings) played each week to the brief accompanying article on the internet. That way, if anyone is interested in wanting to listen more and get their own copy of any of the music, it would be easier to figure out what to purchase.
“Also, kudos go out to David Vaughan for his special on the World War II recordings. David has a real affinity for putting together interesting history programs, as all of your faithful listeners know from the most excellent series, now being repeated, ‘From the Archives’.”
I’m afraid we are unable to provide the list of the songs featured for the same reason we do not publish the full text version of the programme – even though we realise this makes it difficult for potential buyers of the music. The reason is copyright and at the moment there is nothing we can do about it.
And speaking of music and music programmes, as you will know, Radio Prague’s annual competition is underway again. Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the month of May we play a song which originated in an unnamed Czech theatre. We want you to listen to the song and tell us which theatre it was and who were its main protagonists. The deadline is May 31st.
The winner will receive a digital radio and another 30 contestants will receive small prizes. I will repeat the addresses to write to at the end of this programme.
Now back to your e-mails. Bob Boundy from New Zealand writes:
“I am sending this email to say how much I still enjoy your programmes. The special programme of 14th May about the finding of the records in an attic was very interesting. I really enjoyed listening to the playback of one of them. The Spotlight programme also bought back memories about Křivoklát castle as we visited it in 1995.”
Meng Cheng from China asked a question:
“As a librarian, I want to know which library is the most distinguished in the Czech Republic.”
The largest and one of the oldest library institutions in the country is the National Library of the Czech Republic, located in Prague’s historic Klementinum – a former Jesuit College. The millions of books and newspapers no longer fit in the old buildings in the centre of Prague and a lot of them are now stored in a depository on the outskirts of Prague. The plan to raise a modern National Library building in Prague was abandoned a few years ago. The library’s English language website is at www.nkp.cz
“I would like to know the time of your live English language broadcast on the internet. Whenever I tune to your broadcast as per your schedule I get to listen to your recorded broadcast.”
After Radio Prague shortwave broadcasts were discontinued, there is no such thing as a “live broadcast” on our internet site. It has been replaced by “continuous broadcasting” and the latest broadcast appears on the internet as a recorded one and is played in loops.
Gerwyn Roberts writes from Wales:
“It has been some time since I last wrote to you, but I must let you know that I still take a great interest in Radio Prague and the Czech Republic. I must admit that I do not listen to Radio Prague as often as I would like to, particularly since the end of short wave broadcasts. My wife and I used to be regular listeners. We have a shortwave radio in our bedroom and regularly used to listen to either the morning or late evening broadcasts. We enjoyed many of the programmes including Letter from Prague, Magazine programme and, of course, Mailbox!
“Obviously we will never again hear Radio Prague on short wave. It was just so convenient, you can take a radio anywhere. What I do hope is that your programmes will continue, even if it is on the internet. I have been a listener since 1963 and I do not intend giving up the relationship with Radio Prague, even if it will have to be via the internet. Thank you all for the sterling work over many years.”
Feedback from our listeners and readers is vital for us and all your reception reports, comments and questions are very welcome. You can also comment on our features posted on Radio Prague’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/radioprague and follow our tweets on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/RadioPrague
All that remains now is to repeat our monthly quiz question:
This month we would like to know the name of the Austrian poet and writer born in 1821 in the south Moravian town of Mikulov who developed a system of tactile signing for deaf-blind people named after him.
In the next edition of Mailbox, on June 4, we will disclose his identity and announce the name of the lucky winner who will receive a small prize from Radio Prague.
Please send us the name of the mystery person by the end of May to the usual address [email protected] or Radio Prague 12099 Prague. That’s where you can also send us your entries in the annual competition. Thanks for listening today and until next time, take care.
