If you’re going to have a music birthday, today would be a very good day for it. There’s not a lot of competition!

Franz Lachner, born on this date in 1803, was the most successful composer of Franz Schubert’s circle, his reputation extending far beyond the walls of Vienna. He was one of Schubert’s younger friends. Even so, it’s sobering to reflect that Lachner died in 1890. How much Schubert might have accomplished had he lived! Though his star has certainly faded over the years, Lachner remains something of a missing link between Schubert and Schumann. We’ll be able to sample of some of his music this afternoon.

We’ll also celebrate Easter Monday with a work inspired by the traditional White House “egg roll,” by John Philip Sousa, and assume an Easter Monday swagger, courtesy of Thomas Kerr. Maybe we’ll even have some music suggestive of some overworked hens.

In addition, there will be a concerto by Stephen Dodgson – composer (a descendant of Lewis Carroll) and some music-making by his wife, Jane Clark Dodgson, in honor of her 90th birthday. We’ll also welcome April with John Foulds’ “April – England.” (April Foulds, a day late.)

There will be “a bit of this and a bit of that,” as we get back to work on this Easter Monday. Enjoy some musical crocuses, from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.