Classic Ross Amico

Tag: WPRB

Jewish Music for the High Holy Days

Coming up in the next hour, it’s “The Chagall Windows,” English composer John McCabe’s luminous, strange and beautiful impressions of the stained glass tableaux located at the synagogue of the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Also, we’ll hear Philadelphia native Amanda Harberg’s “Elegy” for viola and piano, a work dedicated to one of her teachers, Marina Grin.

It’s all music by Jewish composers or on Jewish themes for the High Holy Days this morning until 11 ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM and wprb.com.

September 17, 2015
Days of Awe Music Klezmer on WPRB

Still haven’t had enough? There’s more music on Jewish themes in the 10:00 hour ET, as we continue with our observance of the Days of Awe, with the “Klezmer Rondos” by Paul Schoenfield and a set of dances from “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews” by John Duffy. Get ready to cut a rug – or at least some challah – at WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com.

September 17, 2015
Shanah Tovah Radio: Jewish Composers on WPRB

Shanah tovah!

Once again, if you’re Jewish, allow me to wish you a sweet and happy new year. If you’re not, I hope you’ll sit back and enjoy the music, as tomorrow morning on WPRB, I’ll be offering works by Jewish composers and/or on Jewish themes.

By request, I’ll continue a WPRB tradition, initiated by the great Teri Noel Towe, of airing a recording of Pablo Casals in Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei.” I also have “Kol Nidre” settings by Jacob Weinberg, Arnold Schoenberg and Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek. That’s right – he, of “Donna Diana” fame.

Not all of these composers were Jewish, of course. I’ll give the goys some poise with music on Jewish themes by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Maurice Ravel, and John McCabe’s “Chagall Windows,” inspired by the stained glass creations that frame the synagogue of the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.

And let’s not forget John Duffy’s Emmy Award-winning music for the PBS television series “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews.”

I’ve got a box full of CDs featuring works by Paul Ben-Haim, Herman Berlinski, Leonard Bernstein, Ernest Bloch, David Diamond, Matthew H. Fields, Lukas Foss, Srul Irving Glick, Alexander Krein, Paul Schoenfield, Leon Stein, David Stock, Franz Waxman, and Philadelphia natives Louis Gesensway and Amanda Harberg.

Just how much of this music I’ll actually be able to get on the air remains to be seen. Prepare to be awed by music for the Days of Awe, tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM or at wprb.com. We’re all sticky with apples and honey on Classic Ross Amico.

PHOTO: Learn the proper way to make a shofar here:

https://sites.temple.edu/historynews/2013/09/04/from-the-philadelphia-jewish-archives-shana-tova-happy-jewish-new-year/

September 16, 2015
Russian Folklore Music on WPRB

I try to make it a practice never to start in on the vodka before noon. But today I will make an exception. This week on WPRB, whether by flying carpet or magic slippers, we travel to the exotic realms of Russian folklore.

We’ll have music inspired by the myths, legends and folktales of Russia, including works evocative of Baba Yaga, Koschei the Deathless, the Firebird, Zolushka, Ivan the Fool, Ruslan and Ludmila, and the Invisible City of Kitezh. The folk heroes Sadko and Stepan Razin will also be represented. Along the way, we’ll also hear some of the great singers of Russian opera.

The crowning glory of the morning will be Reinhold Gliere’s epic symphony on the exploits of Ilya Muromets. We’ll hear the acclaimed recording by JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, who took the work to Carnegie Hall in 2013 and subsequently recorded it complete (over 70 minutes) for the Naxos label. The release was described by David Hurwitz of classicstoday.com as “the finest version yet recorded,” and by Peter J. Rabinowitz of “Fanfare” as “beyond excellent.” Listen for it to begin between 9:30 and 9:45.

I hope you’ll join me this morning from 6 to 11 ET, for five hours of Russian folk tales and fairy music at WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com. I start the day singing basso profundo this week on Classic Ross Amico.

September 10, 2015
Russian Folklore Music on WPRB

Join me this week on WPRB, when we immerse ourselves in the exotic realms of Russian folklore.

We’ll have music inspired by the myths, legends and folktales of Russia, including works evocative of Baba Yaga, Koschei the Deathless, the Firebird, Zolushka, Ivan the Fool, Ruslan and Ludmila, and the Invisible City of Kitezh. The folk heroes Sadko and Stepan Razin will also be represented.

Reinhold Gliere’s epic symphony on the exploits of Ilya Muromets has been the most requested piece of the summer. (That is to say, it was requested by the most people, as opposed to multiple requests from the same source!) We’ll finally have a chance to hear the acclaimed recording by JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, who took the work to Carnegie Hall in 2013 and subsequently recorded it complete (over 70 minutes) for the Naxos label. The release was described by David Hurwitz of classicstoday.com as “the finest version yet recorded,” and by Peter J. Rabinowitz of “Fanfare” as “beyond excellent.”

It was the excuse to play “Muromets” that determined our theme for the week. It seems all the more appropriate since I’m always Russian to get there anyway. I hope you’ll join me tomorrow morning from 6 to 11 ET, for five hours of Russian folklore at WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com. Say “da” to Classic Ross Amico.

September 9, 2015

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