As you may know, WWFM is in the middle of its “Around the World in 80 Hours” pledge drive. On Wednesday, Rachel Katz and I were given one hour in Ukraine, which is hardly enough time to scratch the surface of such a rich musical heritage. It’s especially frustrating in the context of a pledge drive, when all of the selections need to be short and preferably upbeat.

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” I attempt to assuage some of the frustration by revisiting Ukraine and programming lengthier pieces by two important omissions.

Reinhold Glière, best known for his ballet “The Red Poppy,” with its ubiquitous “Russian Sailor’s Dance,” and perhaps for his Symphony No. 3, “Ilya Muromets,” was born in Kiev in 1875. Among his works steeped specifically in Ukrainian lore is the symphonic poem/ballet “The Zaporozhy Cossacks,” based on the famous canvas by Ilya Repin.

In 1913, Glière attained an appointment to the school of music in Kiev, which was raised to the status of conservatory shortly thereafter. Glière served as director of the conservatory from 1914 to 1920.

Among his pupils there was Boris Lyatoshinsky, who lived from 1895 to 1968. Lyatoshinsky was a student at the conservatory at the start. The first movement of his Symphony No. 1 was written as a graduation work. The other two movements followed in 1919.

The first performance of the piece took place under Glière’s direction in 1923. If you get all sweaty listening to the orchestral works of Alexander Scriabin, you certainly won’t want to miss this, an opulent work by a young man determined to impress.

I hope you’ll join me for “Steppe Lively” – classical music from Ukraine – tonight at 10 ET. PLEASE NOTE: because of the pledge drive, the show will not be repeated on Wednesday. However, if you miss it tonight, you can listen to it later as a webcast – and pledge online – at wwfm.org.

PHOTO: Ilya Repin’s “Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks”