As mentioned on Classic Ross Amico (where we are currently enjoying David Amram’s “Theme and Variations on ‘Red River Valley’”), here is a clip of the ceaselessly energetic Amram performing at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 2011 at the age of 80.
Hear more American music, in anticipation of Labor Day though 11 a.m. ET, at WPRB 103.3 FM or at wprb.com.
I am toiling at programming right now so that I might get you in the mood for Labor Day tomorrow morning on WPRB. Unsurprisingly, I will be playing all American music, though not all of it will be labor-oriented.
Composers you may hear will include David Amram, Romeo Cascarino, John Corigliano, David Diamond, Howard Hanson, Paul Lansky, Jerome Moross, Stephen Paulus, Walter Piston and Elie Siegmeister.
I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear a symphony by Lukas Foss from a new recording of the complete set of four by Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP).
Labor-oriented pieces will include “John Henry” by Aaron Copland, “Skyscrapers” by John Alden Carpenter, and “Flivver Ten Million” – complete with foundry noises – by Frederick Shepherd Converse. In addition, Princeton’s own Paul Robeson will sing the labor anthem “Joe Hill.”
Get ready to punch the clock tomorrow morning at 6 ET. I’ll be with you until 11, on WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com, busting my hump on Classic Ross Amico.
You want something you won’t generally hear on the radio? How about Robert Schumann’s “Scenes from Goethe’s ‘Faust’” – all blessed two hours of it, complete with vocal soloists and chorus. I’ve got a fine performance of it, all ready to go, with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as Faust, Elisabeth Harwood as Gretchen, and John Shirley-Quirk as Mephistopheles. The conductor? Benjamin Britten.
It may very well be the highlight of this morning’s show, which will be devoted to works inspired by Germany’s literary giant, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), on his birthday anniversary.
Here’s the thing: in order to play what I want to play, I’ll have to start Schumann’s “Faust” at 7 a.m. So brew yourself some strong coffee and leave a message for the boss that you’ve got an emergency dental appointment and you’ll be in a little late.
There will also be symphonic poems by Liszt (“Tasso, Lament and Triumph”) and Paul Dukas (“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” in a vintage recording with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra), plenty of music based on melodies from Gounod’s “Faust,” Beethoven’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage,” some opera arias, and lieder, lieder, lieder, from Franz Schubert to Hugo Wolf.
All you have to do is sign this parchment with your blood.
I hope you’ll join me this morning, from 6 to 11 ET, as we celebrate Goethe, on WPRB 103.3 FM or at wprb.com. Get your fill of the quill, on Classic Ross Amico.*
*Apparently Goethe actually preferred the pencil:
http://takingnotenow.blogspot.com/2013/08/goethe-and-quill-and-pencil.html
Have you tuned in since 7:00 and thought, “What the hell is he playing?” It’s Robert Schumann’s rarely heard quasi-oratorio “Scenes from Goethe’s ‘Faust.’” We’re celebrating Goethe until 11 ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM or at wprb.com.
I hope you’ll stick around. Coming up in the 9:00 hour, it’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas, with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Don’t sue me, Disney!
Right now, we’re enjoying music by the Polish violin virtuoso Henryk Wieniawski on themes from Gounod’s “Faust.”
Coming up in the next hour, we’ll have highlights from Arrigo Boito’s opera “Mefistofele.” Perhaps better known as the outstanding librettist for Verdi’s “Otello” and “Falstaff,” Boito could be quite the composer himself.
We’re celebrating Goethe until 11:00 this morning on WPRB 103.3 FM and at wprb.com.
Aaron Copland (92) Beethoven (95) Composer (114) Film Music (123) Film Score (143) Film Scores (255) Halloween (94) John Williams (187) KWAX (229) Leonard Bernstein (101) Marlboro Music Festival (125) Movie Music (138) Opera (202) Philadelphia Orchestra (89) Picture Perfect (174) Princeton Symphony Orchestra (106) Radio (87) Ralph Vaughan Williams (85) Ross Amico (244) Roy's Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner (290) The Classical Network (101) The Lost Chord (268) Vaughan Williams (103) WPRB (396) WWFM (881)