Mountains can be the bearers of mystical revelations or shattering catastrophe. They are the wellsprings of folk song, beacons for recreation, escapes from the world of men, and safe harbor for exiles, brigands and monsters.

This Thursday morning on WPRB, the focus will be on “Men and Mountains.” I borrow the name from a work by the original cranky Yankee, Carl Ruggles, who was a good friend of Charles Ives. We’ll hear Ruggles’ rugged masterwork, alongside music by Hugo Alfvén, Frederick Delius, Vincent d’Indy, Jon Leifs, E.J. Moeran, Vítězslav Novák, and Karol Szymanowski, among others.

At 10:00, I’ll be joined by Daniel Spalding, music director of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, which will be presenting Alan Hovhaness’ “Mysterious Mountain” at the center of a program which will also include music by Hector Berlioz and Camille Saint-Saëns (the mighty “Organ” Symphony, with Joseph Jackson at the console). Spalding will be on hand to tell us more about this exciting event, which will take place this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton.

I’ll meet you at base camp, this Thursday morning, from 6 to 11 EDT, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com. Get ready to scale dizzying heights with Classic Ross Amico.