Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Sweetness and Light

Father’s Day Music Kebab on KWAX

This week on “Sweetness and Light,” on the eve of Father’s Day, grab a cold one and meet me at the grill. I’ll be assembling a classical kebab for Dad.

The adage, “the family that plays together, stays together,” will be borne out through all-in-the-family performances by Los Romeros (the Royal Family of the Spanish Guitar) and the Shostakoviches (composer father, conductor son, and pianist grandson). Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, brother of Andrew Lloyd Webber, will play music by their father, William. Proud papa Erich Wolfgang Korngold will unveil his “Baby Serenade,” written for the impending arrival of his son, Georg (future record producer George Korngold). We’ll also hear a setting of a Danish folk song, “Father and Daughter,” by Percy Grainger, and a beloved Giacomo Puccini aria sung by a daughter to her father.

All in all, it will be a more creative, and possibly more gratifying, alternative to the gift of yet another necktie. Lots of music on the menu for Dad on a savory “Sweetness and Light,” this Saturday morning at 11:00 EDT/8:00 PDT, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!

Stream it, wherever you are, at the link:

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

June 15, 2024
Animal House Was Filmed at the University of Oregon!

FUN FACT: The University of Oregon is actually where they filmed “Animal House.” No university approached would touch the script, but Oregon’s president had been burned once before, when as an administrator at USC, the school had withheld permission from the makers of “The Graduate.” So he said carpe diem and full speed ahead. His only condition: that his name not appear in the finished film.

So, you see, the University of Oregon is even a better fit as home base for broadcasts of my weekly radio shows than you might have previously suspected.

As my own contribution to academic notoriety, I’ll be celebrating graduation season this morning on “Sweetness and Light” with a program of processionals and scenes from campus life – including a shocking number of works based on student drinking songs. Composers represented will include Jean Sibelius, Johannes Brahms, Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss II, Sigmund Romberg, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and of course Sir Edward “Pomp and Circumstance” Elgar.

Hide the empties from your folks and join me in cap and gown. We’ll be disguising our breath and churning out responsible citizens when we reel to the platform to claim our parchment on the next “Sweetness and Light,” this Saturday morning at 11:00 EDT/8:00 PST!

Stream it, wherever you are, at the link:

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

NOTE: None of these guys graduated

June 1, 2024
Memorial Day Picnic Sweetness and Light on KWAX

For many, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, as people take advantage of the three-day weekend, and the hopefully mild weather, to celebrate.

Of course, Memorial Day itself is a rather solemn holiday, as we’re meant to honor the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives in defense of our country.

That said, this morning on “Sweetness and Light,” since there’s little “sweet” or “light” about war, I figured rather we’d take the hour to enjoy a little Memorial Day picnic, if you will.

I hope you’ll join me for an outdoor overture, a barbecue divertimento, a carousel waltz, some gazebo dances, a pickle-and-pepper rag, a teddy bear’s picnic, and, yes, even a musical moment of reflection for the fallen.

The first of the summer’s patriotic holidays is upon us. Wrap yourself in the flag and everything else in bacon, this morning on “Sweetness and Light.” The three-legged races and pie-eating contests commence at 11:00 EDT/8:00 EDT, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!

Stream it, wherever you are, at the link:

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

May 25, 2024
May Flowers & Floral Music on Sweetness and Light

This morning on “Sweetness and Light,” we’ll take some time to smell the flowers – May flowers, that is! No, you wiseacres, nothing to do with the Pilgrims. Rather a celebration of gardens and all things floral. I’ve assembled some bouquets of music by Albert Ketèlbey, Johann Strauss II, Ethelbert Nevin, Edward MacDowell, Scott Joplin, Gilbert & Sullivan, Billy Mayerl, Percy Grainger, Léo Delibes, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The centerpiece will be “L’horoge de flore” (“The Flower Clock”) by Jean Françaix, written for John de Lancie, principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Each of the seven movements corresponds to a flower whose blooms open at a certain time of day. The first floral clock was formulated by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, back in 1748.

Surely, there are more accurate ways to keep time. Use one to mark the minutes until “Sweetness and Light,” a program of music calculated to charm and to cheer, this Saturday morning at 11:00 EDT/8:00 PDT, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!

Stream it, wherever you are, at the link:

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

May 18, 2024
Out Sick But KWAX Shows Still Airing

For anyone expecting a response from me today, I am sorry to have to report that I am sick. Horrible chills and light-headedness and an afternoon spent shuddering under the covers, in robe and many layers of pajamas, but no sleep. Not looking for your pity; it’s just that I know I promised a bunch of you I would get back to you today, as soon as I finished recording tomorrow morning’s show (“Sweetness and Light”) for KWAX. Miraculously, I was able to get it in. I wonder if Esa-Pekka Salonen cast the runes and put the whammy on me for my scathing review of his Sibelius that I posted earlier this week? In any case, I am not ignoring you! I’ve just been too active and not getting enough sleep, and now I’m paying for it. I’ll respond as soon as I am feeling up to it. My weekend shows will air as scheduled, at the times below. Thank you for your patience, and have a great weekend!

Remember, KWAX is on the West Coast, so there’s a three-hour difference for those of you listening in the East. Here are the respective air-times for all three of my recorded shows (with East Coast conversions in parentheses):

PICTURE PERFECT, the movie music show – Friday on KWAX at 5:00 PM PACIFIC TIME (8:00 PM EASTERN)

SWEETNESS AND LIGHT, the light music program – ALL NEW! – Saturday on KWAX at 8:00 AM PACIFIC TIME (11:00 AM EASTERN)

THE LOST CHORD, unusual and neglected rep – Saturday on KWAX at 4:00 PM PACIFIC TIME (7:00 PM EASTERN)

Stream all three, at the times indicated, by following the link!

https://kwax.uoregon.edu/

May 17, 2024

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