The document contains a collection of letters sent to the radio program KUT in Austin, Texas between October 1976 and May 1977. The letters provide feedback on various aspects of the programming, including preferences for instrumental over vocal music, requests to repeat programs, suggestions to delay live broadcasts that conflict with other shows, and praise or criticisms of specific music selections. The listeners express a range of opinions but generally appreciate the eclectic mix of music programming provided by KUT.

1. October 1976 Listen Letters
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Dear Friend Ekelektikos,
You said to listen to this singer, Elly Ameling, because surely we would like it. NO! I just can't stand to
hear someone suffer like that!
Seriously, if I wanted to hear vocal music, I would listen to another station. I listen to KUT because on
good mornings I get to listen to baroque music. But I really can't bear to listen to these things that sound
like slowly dying alley cats.
Your fan, usually,
Mary Chipley - Austin, Texas
Response: We have an eclectic program and an eclectic audience. Viva la difference! - John Aielli
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Dear Eklektikos,
Several months ago I wrote to you expressing my displeasure with the frequent playing of operatic works.
I enjoy listening to classical music while I work. But I finally had to quit listening to the program because I
found the vocal music so irritating.
Yesterday, by accident, I happened to turn to KUT. I was delighted to hear first Mozart and later Copland.
I decided to try again this morning, and to my delight, I again enjoyed a morning of good music. I hope
that you will continue in this return to instrumental music.
Mary Chipley - Austin, Texas
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Dear Sirs,
Thank you for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It's the best radio program I have ever heard, at least
since the Odyssey. I hope you will repeat it, so that I may have a chance to catch it on tape.
Angus G. Pearson - Austin, Texas
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Dear Bill Grims or Stewart Wilber,
Glancing through the coming week in Listen just now I was relieved to note that the Austin City Council
meets at night this Thursday, and I was reminded that I've meant for some time to ask you to consider the
following proposal:
When the City Council's daytime meetings run past 5 o'clock (which they usually do), puh-leeeeze tape

2. the next hour and a half, and run All Things Considered at its usual time.
I enjoy most of your programming, and agree with you that live broadcast of the City Council is an
important civic contribution. But, All Things Considered is the high point of my radio day, and many
others, I expect. It doesn't seem to me that a little delayed playback would hurt the City Council
broadcast.
I do hope that you will take into serious consideration my (faithful) listener's request.
Cynthia Gardner - Austin, Texas
Response: Thank you for your letter and especially for your comments about All Things Considered. It is
a high point not only in our day too but also in the history of news broadcasting. I wish I could make you
happy and accede to your request for tape-delay of Austin City Council meetings that run past 5:00 p.m.
The problem with doing that is that we would make just as many City Council devotees unhappy by doing
that as we make ATC devotees unhappy by not doing it. The quot;livequot; nature of the Council broadcasts is
very important to their audience. I can offer you some comfort, though. I did a quick check of Thursday
logs for a few months back, and in most cases the Council meeting did not run past five. We hope you'll
bear with us, and we appreciate your feedback. - Stewart Wilber (Program Director)
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Dear Mr. Aielli,
...Though I have said it before, thank you for many hours of enjoyable listening in the mornings.
Incidentally, I was glad to learn that you like Poulenc; I hope you play as much of his music as possible.
Months late, I would like to thank you for a program in which you played about two hours of French minor
works that were perfectly delightful.
Betty Burkhalter - Austin, Texas
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To Whom it May Concern,
We hope the Spider's Web program will continue, as our children enjoy it very much. They tune in nightly
and follow the episodes with anticipation and pleasure.
Thank you for providing imaginative and healthful programming for young children.
Rosalie Oliveri - Austin, Texas
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Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to the women's music program that was broadcast on Saturday, March 12. The
program was excellently done and I enjoyed it more than any other program I had heard lately. Genie
Wallace did a commendable job of producing the show.
I would like to see you have a women's show on a regular basis. There is an incredible amount of talent in

3. the feminist community which does not receive the media exposure it deserves and needs. Such a
program would also be a valuable service to the local women's community.
Kathleen M. Coyne - Austin, Texas
Response: Thank you for your letter about Genie Wallace's program. She did a tremendous amount of
work on it, and I know she will be pleased to see your comments which we are passing on to her. In terms
of a regular women's program, this is something we will consider if we received enough evidence from the
community that there would be a regular and large enough audience for it to justify production expenses
and the airtime. I should point out that female talent is well-represented in all of our music and public
affairs programming, from Susan Stamberg on NPR's All Things Considered to Leontyne Price in John
Aielli's Eklektikos.
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Dear John Aielli,
This morning's music (May 23) was really the worst I have heard on your program. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It's hard to show a sens of humor with music, isn't it? Thank you for a pleasant time.
Mary Harter - Austin, Texas
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Dear John Aielli,
I am generally full of praise for your show, but five hours of a single composer is too much! I find it a
challenge trying to listen to so much of one composition and fall asleep at the same time. Tedious
boredom is perhaps too strong of a condemnation. The point is that listening to music that we have a dim
background of makes us lose interest in the music altogether.
Richard Gebhart - Austin, Texas
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