Robin's Christmas Specials

Well it's already 2009 and though I'm a bit late I thought you might like to see pictures of, and have links to, the cds that I used for my special programming this holiday season.

12/24/08 9:00 Hour

“The Birth of Jesus” by John Michael Talbot. This work for choirs and orchestra also features guitarist and vocalist John Michael Talbot. “The Birth of Jesus” features beautifully rich arrangements of favorite Christmas carols and hymns as well as original compositions by John Michael Talbot.


Here's a link to John Michael Talbot's website where you can purchase "The Birth of Jesus."

You can also purchase "The Birth of Jesus" from amazon.com.


12/23/08 10:00 Hour

"A Mediterranean Christmas" with The Boston Camerata and the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble in songs of celebration from Spain, Provence, Italy & the Middle East.



Here's a link to "A Mediterranean Christmas at www.arkivmusic.com

12/22/08 11:00 Hour

"Hanukkah Fantasy" of Zamir Bavel. A wonderful combination of Hanukkah tunes and Christmas songs…bringing together the two cultures.

This was a hard cd to find online but I did manage to find this link at catalog.einetwork.net

The other cd I used this hour featured Samuel Adler's "The Flames of Freedom" and can be found at www.arkivmusic.com.



12/19 10:00 Hour

“The Nutcracker” by Pytor Tchaikovsky and narrated by Kevin Kline.
Kevin Kline beautifully narrates the exciting story of Clara and the Mouse King with some of the most beloved music in the holiday repertoire.



I had absolutely no luck finding a cd version of this for sale online. I did find the DVD starring Macauly Culkin with the Kevin Kline narration but no cd. If you find one please let me know!

12/18 9:00 Hour

“A Classical Kids Christmas”From the award winning Classical Kids collection comes the story of the Three Wise Men as they set out for Bethlehem. You’ll also meet St. Nicholas (not Santa Claus!) while experiencing the musical traditions of Christmas around the world. Combining classical carols and classic poetry, the words and music invite you to share in a magical Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Discover why the stork delivers babies, how the robin got its red breast and how tinsel came to decorate trees.



Here's a link to where you can purchase "A Classical Kids Christmas".

Other cds in the Classical Kids collection can be purchased through www.childrensgroup.com.


12/17 11:00 Hour

“Brother Heinrich’s Christmas” by John Rutter
Brother Heinrich and his faithful friend, the talking and singing donkey Sigismund, help make the wine that brings people from far and wide to the old stone vine-covered monastery. They share good conversation and a love of music. Enjoy the music and story of how Sigismund saves the day at the Christmas service!



"Brother Heinrich's Christmas" is one of the pieces on John Rutter's cd entitled "Three Musical Fables" found at arkivmusic.

12/16 10:00 Hour

"Our Lord’s Nativity" is an exciting new work by Latvian composer Rihards Dubra combining elements of folk, Gregorian and Renaissance music. It's from the cd "Christmas Joy in Latvia" available through arkivmusic.

12/15 9:00 Hour
“Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez
The composer of the popular “Creole Mass” also wrote a series of songs in which he gives each episode of the Nativity story a regional flavor. Each song features a different rhythm or dance type, from the tender grace of the chamame’ representing the Annunciation to the jubilant chaya riojana announcing the arrival of the shepherds. Ramirez again employs traditional Argentinian instruments and features tenor Jose Carreras at his best. If you like the “Creole Mass” you’ll like “Navidad Nuestra!”



"Navidad Nuestra" is part of a collection of the other works of Ariel Ramirez including his "Creole Mass" found on this Philips cd at
arkivmusic.

My New Year's Resolution.....NOT!

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Is there a reason why they don't show anyone landing?!

The Mouse Tango

I came across this classical website today while referencing a particular piece of music. The name of the site, hardly evokes the kind of dignity, respect and - dare I say it? - pomposity that is often expected in the world of classical music but the results are often hilarious. Check out their clip section for more videos, including a lightning fast performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee by punked up Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica and what I'm calling the "Salute to David Letterman throwing things off of tall buildings" approach to Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." Enjoy!

The Cycle Begins!

Beginning Monday, November 10th you can hear the entire cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas recorded by
Andras Schiff.
Tune into my morning show on Northwest Public Radio as I focus on one sonata per day throughout the months of November and December.

It's a big deal in the classical music world whenever an artist takes on this fulfulling challenge. Music critic Tom Manoff has been eagerly anticipating Schiff's final recording in the series and you can listen to his review here.

Check out this site to listen to Schiff's lectures about each of the sonatas.

Admittedly apropos of nothing but.....

Van Morrison

or Andras Schiff








You decide!

Celebrate & Collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma!

So...wouldn't you like to record with Yo-Yo Ma? Just the two of you? Wouldn't that be amazingly cool?! Yo-Yo recorded the melody of "Dona Nobis Pacem" and you can add a counter-melody, or a new set of variations. Click on the link to find out how!


Look at how much fun Yo-Yo and Bobby McFerrin are obviously having! Imagine....a Northwest Public Radio listener in a one-on-one recording session with Yo-Yo Ma? Make it happen, people! Visualize....



Dream....
















Do!

Super Classical Thursday!!!

Okay, so the studios of Northwest Public Radio don't actually look like this, but we certainly feel this festive on Super Thursday our one day pledge drive!

This Super Thursday you will hear the latest cd from Yo-Yo Ma featuring a duet with Renee Fleming that will leave you weeping into your hankie....but in a good way!

You will also walk down the "Streets of Laredo,"























receive "Grace" from Jonathan Elias' beautiful choral work "The Prayer Cycle," and hear a classical cowboy tribute.



Join us for a lot of great music and thanks for supporting Northwest Public Radio!

Minute or Minute?

I had a conversation with John from Yakima today about the "Minute Waltz." His theory is that the nickmane of one of Chopin's most famous pieces has been incorrectly pronounced and understood for years. In other words, is the "Minute Waltz" about time (MIN-iht) or size (mi-N(Y)UT)? In the words, or rather word, of Keanu Reeves "Whoa!" In 19 years of hosting classical music this never occurred to me which seems kind of silly, actually, because it's impossible to properly play the piece in one minute or under. So what happened?



There's been a legend or rumour, call it what you will, that Chopin was trying to depict a dog chasing its tail, perhaps even inspired by his own dog. That seems a pretty fair assumption since Chopin's own name for the piece was "Petit Chien" (Little Dog). It was his publisher at that time, however, who attached the name "Minute Waltz" to the piece and it seems he was, indeed, referring to the size (mi-N(Y)UT)of the piece, rather than the time (MIN-iht).

Here are some fun examples of a few of the many, many people who have been wrong.

Here is Barbra Streisand's version of the "Minute Waltz." I've posted the lyrics below so that you can follow along.




I have got a minute, just a little minute,
I have only got a minute, just minute,
I have only got a minute that is all the time
I have to sing this tiny minute waltz
It isn't easy but I'll try it
Than I gotta say goodbye
But first I take a minute
And put in it every note that Chopin wrote
and I shall sing the little minute waltz
And hope that I can sing with no faults
and though it's difficult
I'll give it every gust of air I got within in my body
Hope that my performance will be very shiny
Singing every note will not do wonders for my throat
I probably will end up hoarse
Of course I will have done it
And a will for that I made
That what I want is not the money
but the satisfaction that I get
from winning money on this silly kind of bet
Though this kind of solo wasn't his intention
Chopin isn't here to make an intervention
So with your permission and no intermission
I will sing each note that that composer wrote
as you can hear my trilling isn't very thrilling
but no one can say I wasn't very willing
to attempt a thing that's not been done
and just for fun to sing the minute waltz
As I sing the seconds fly, oh too soon the minute waltzes by
And now I ask you where am I halfway through the tune
and I'm falling far behind
I have less than 30 seconds
less than 30 seconds
less than 30
less than half a minute
I have less than 30 seconds
I have less than half a minute
to complete this little minute waltz
And every note that's its score
While the sands of time I know are pouring
Let me win my bet and I'll run with the money
Down to some drug store whare I will buy a honey
Or a trophy for myself to put upon a shelf to show the world I've won
Oh the second hand is rushing round the dial
And though I'd like to end this torture with a smile
Unless someone knows how to stop the clock
you gonna see me cry before I said goodbye
Eight little measures to complete this song
But I'm afraid my little lungs will burst before to long if
Only I can last the scale
I won't have failed to sing the minute waltz!

Check out this funny bit about the waltz by the famous Danish musician and comedian Victor Borge.



Enjoy this clip of the BBC radio show "Just a Minute" which uses the "Minute Waltz" as their theme.



And finally, who knew that Bugs Bunny would be the one to get it right?!