In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation designating that November 26 be observed as a public day of thanksgiving. This marked the first national celebration of a holiday that has become commonplace in America’s households.

I hope you’ll join me this afternoon on The Classical Network. On this, the anniversary of Washington’s Thanksgiving, though this year’s celebration is still two days away, you’ll find me greedily reaching for a drumstick. And a reed. And some rosin. That’s right, it will be a feast of American music, so make sure you save a little room after lunch.

I’ll be setting the table with, among others, “American Dances” by David Amram, the String Quartet No. 1 “American Dreams” by Peter Schickele, “Fanfare on Amazing Grace” by Adolphus Hailstork, “Harvest” by Morton Gould, “Shaker Loops” by John Adams,” “The Acadian Land” by Romeo Cascarino, the Violin Sonata No. 2 by Charles Ives, and the Symphony No. 60 “To the Appalachian Mountains” by Alan Hovhaness.

First, on today’s Noontime Concert, we’ll give thanks for a musical friendship that yielded much beauty. Clarinetist Yoonah Kim and pianist Kevin Ahfat will present a recital of works by the Schumanns and Johannes Brahms. On the program will be Brahms’ Clarinet Sonata No. 2, an arrangement of Clara Schumann’s Three Romances for Violin and Piano, and six of her songs. The concert took place last month at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall in New York City.

So put your hands together. We’ll make a meal of great music, from 12 to 4 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.