Classic Ross Amico

Tag: The Classical Network

Happy Birthday Bach Donate to Classical Network

The day is upon us! Happy birthday, Bach!

Before you attempt a Google search today, you had better resign yourself to a marked dip in productivity. This time-sucking, interactive Google Doodle gives a crash course in music theory and employs “artificial intelligence” to harmonize your own instant masterpiece (which you can then share with your friends).

Now if only it would do the additional work of transforming my melody into a fugue!

If you can postpone the instant gratification of A.I. for just a moment, please don’t forget, we at The Classical Network are working hard to wrap up our “Bach 500” campaign.

As soon as we reach 500 listener contributions – contributions IN ANY AMOUNT, mind you; you set the level – we unlock this year’s Bach Pot, which means over $14,000 in challenge money to the station. Then it’s off to our own little Café Zimmerman, metaphorically speaking, for a celebratory marathon of Bach’s music, free from fundraising interruptions.

Can you help us get there ASAP? Become one of the 500 now at our website, by clicking on “donate,” at wwfm.org, or call us (after 9 a.m. EDT) at 1-888-232-1212. We are looking forward to making this goal and giving free rein to all the sonatas, concertos, suites, and cantatas we can lay our hands on.

There was nothing artificial about Bach’s intelligence, or his humanity. Thank you for your continued support of great music on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org!

More information on the creation of the Bach Google Doodle here:

https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-johann-sebastian-bach

March 21, 2019
WWFM Plays Oscar Favorites Picture Perfect

“You played it for her; you can play it for me. If she can stand it, I can! Play it!”

Okay, okay… Take it easy, Mr. Rick!

You’ll get your share of music from Academy Award winning favorites this afternoon, on a special three-hour “Picture Perfect.”

There will be plenty to enjoy as time goes by, from 4 and 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

February 22, 2019
Celebrate Mozart’s Birthday with Classical Music

There’s no art quite like MozArt.

Reacquaint yourself with the astonishing facility and pervasive humanity of Mozart’s music, as we observe his birthday today (he was born on January 27, 1756) with a full playlist of his symphonies, concertos, chamber and choral works, and selections from his music for the stage.

Yes, Mozart is good for you. Whether or not exposure to his output improves the development of babies’ brains, it has undoubtedly contributed to the world’s sentimental education. Mozart’s music is just plain good for the soul. It reassures and it keeps us in touch with the larger truths of what it means to be human. Was Mozart’s life a bed of roses? No. But he knew where to find beauty, and he devoted a substantial portion of his brief existence to shepherding it into the world.

We at The Classical Network understand the significance of keeping great music in our lives and in our community. But we can only do it with your help and with the help of listeners just like you. If you haven’t contributed to The Classical Network, or if you haven’t contributed recently – or if you HAVE contributed, but now feel you are in a position to bestow an additional gift – please consider joining us in membership today. We have four brand new Mozart-oriented thank you gifts to hopefully entice you and certainly to demonstrate our gratitude to you for doing your part to keep classical music on the airwaves and in continued good health.

There’s more to life than acquiring things, struggling to survive, or shouting down those who happen to disagree with us. The greatest truths and consolations are to be found in the finest music. You don’t have to “know” anything about it. All you to do is open yourself up to it and support it.

Please call us today (between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST) at 1-888-232-1212, or donate online (anytime) at wwfm.org. Then enjoy the music of Mozart right along with us, your friends, at WWFM – The Classical Network. Thank you for ALL that you do.

January 25, 2019
Honegger’s Christmas Cantata on The Classical Network

Hear ye! Let it be known that I will include, by popular demand, Arthur Honegger’s “Une cantate de Noël” (“A Christmas Cantata”), among my mid-winter offerings this afternoon on The Classical Network.

Composed in 1953, Honegger’s musical journey from dark-to-light is thought to have been his final work. And quite a journey it is, from its jet-black opening; through the redemptive entrance of children’s voices in radiant settings of familiar carols; to the ecstatic conclusion, the chorus singing “Gloria in excelsis Deo” with carols in counterpoint, this music is very special indeed. The despair of “De profundis clamavi” only serves to heighten a sense of delirious joy and uplift when the clouds finally part.

Also on today’s program, enjoy Ariel Ramirez’s festive “Navidad Nuestra,” selections from Franz Liszt’s “Christus” and “Christmas Tree Suite,”and “Old Christmas Return’d,” early music from England, Germany, and France, performed by the York Waits.

The star atop the tree will be a Brahms Christmas, on “Music from Marlboro.” I’ll be decking the halls and untangling the lights, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

December 19, 2018
Faustian Bargains Classical Music Fundraiser

I’d considered selling my soul, just so that we could finally put this autumn fundraiser to bed – but the exchange rate is so BAD right now.

Join me this afternoon on The Classical Network for a playlist of music reflective of rash bargaining, including Franz Liszt’s “A Faust Symphony,” Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale,” and Bernard Herrmann’s “The Devil and Daniel Webster.”

Of course, every Faustian pact fulfilled comes with a slight catch.

Technically, we concluded our “three-day” fall membership campaign on Friday. However, there was enough of a shortfall that now we have to make it up by the end of the month. The pitches are now “soft” – comparatively brief solicitations between the full-length pieces that make up the bulk of our regular programming – but unfortunately having to take care of unfinished business means that we’re beginning to cut into Hallowe’en.

I already started trotting out the spooky stuff yesterday, as did Bill McGlaughlin, but I had to drop several pieces, or play them in a less-than-optimal sequence in order to take care of the pressing matter at hand. As of 7 p.m. yesterday, we were approximately $13,000 short of our budgetary requirement for this time of the year. This was, after all, our first on-air fundraiser since June.

I hasten to add, thank you to all of you who have already given. Even yesterday, we took some very generous donations from concerned listeners who understand just how important it is that we raise the money. But it IS Hallowe’en. Wouldn’t we all rather just dress up and toilet paper some trees?

If you haven’t contributed, and you can afford to drop a few goodies into our treat bag, please do so today. Also, alert your music-loving friends, if it’s not too awkward. We cherish our autonomy and our local hosts, and we know that you do, too. You can bolster the Count anytime by donating online at wwfm.org, or by calling us during business hours at 1-888-232-1212.

Today’s Noontime Concert will come to us from the Lake George Music Festival. Tune in to enjoy works by Leonard Bernstein, David Ludwig, and Darius Milhaud. Then give the devil his due. It’s that time of year, from 12 to 4 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

October 30, 2018

Tag Cloud

RECENT POSTS