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Playlist: holidays

Compiled By: Brian Arlt

Caption: PRX default Playlist image
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A Cowboy Christmas

From Western Folklife Center Media | 54:24

A musical and poetic celebration of the Christmas holiday from the open ranges of America's outback.

Default-piece-image-1 A Cowboy Christmas celebrates the holiday with memories, music, and poetry of people who live and work in the isolation of America's outback. Some of the stories and songs are family traditions passed down through the generations while others are new works inspired by Christmas on the lonely range. This program features poets Baxter Black, Waddie Mitchell, and Native American singer and comedian Vincent Craig.

Hanukkah: A Great Miracle Happened There

From RadioArt(r) | 58:10

A conversation between Rabbi Ismar Schorsch and Host Larry Josephson about the history, rituals and meaning of Hanukkah--and its importance in our time. (Revised 2014)

Screen_shot_2013-11-12_at_3 "A Great Miracle Happened There: A Hanukkah Special," is a conversation between Rabbi Ismar Schorsch and Host Larry Josephson about the history, rituals and meaning of Hanukkah--and its importance in our time. Cantors David Lefkowitz and Elisheva Dienstfrey sing the music of Hanukkah. Rabbi Ismar Schorsch explains that Hanukkah is really about a Jewish civil war, a war between assimilated, Hellenized Jews and a pious band of zealots, the Maccabees. The well-known "miracle of the oil," occurs at the end of the story--after the Temple has been retaken by the Maccabees, and rededicated and cleansed. Rabbi Schorsch also talks about Hanukkah as "the Jewish Christmas." Dr. Ismar Schorsch is Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Larry Josephson is a veteran public radio host and interviewer, whose programs have been heard in New York, and nationwide for over 35 years. Glorious music of Hanukkah is sung by Cantor David Lefkowitz of The Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, and by Cantor Elisheva Dienstfrey, now of Congregation Agudas Achim in Alexandria, Virginia. Both are graduates of the Seminary. Additional music from "Voice of the Turtle" and the Zamir Chorale of Boston.
Revised, 2014. 

A Handel & Haydn Society Christmas

From Capital Public Radio | 59:00

Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society.

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Celebrate the season with this hour-long special featuring Christmas choral music from America’s oldest continuously performing ensemble, Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society.  Founded in 1815, the Society is celebrating their bicentennial season, including their 400th performance of Handel’s “Messiah.”  Join Host Cale Wiggins for this program featuring music from the 15th century to the late 20th ; a Christmas for all times.

Compact Discoveries 22: Music for Hanukkah?

From Fred Flaxman | Part of the Compact Discoveries series | 58:00

There's lots of music for Christmas, but what music goes with Hanukkah? Host Fred Flaxman has some answers.

Cdslogo2inch_small "Music for Hanukkah?" What is appropriate music for Hanukkah? Host Fred Flaxman chooses Ravel's "Chanson h?bra?que;" "This Land is Mine" from the movie "Exodus;" the "Finale" from "Live in the Fiddler's House," with Itzhak Perlman as the violinist; harpist Rachel Van Voorhees playing "My Little Dreydl," "Candles Burning," "Hanukkah," and "Rock of Ages;" Krein's "Esquisses h?bra?ques;" Levenson's "Two Jewish Folk Songs;" and klezmer music by Klezamir. Complete script with playlist available here and at www.compactdiscoveries.com.

Would You Believe: Jews who wrote Christmas songs

From Allen Secher | 58:47

12 of the 25 ASCAPs most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews.

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Would You Believe!: Jews who wrote Christmas Songs 58:47

 The ASCAP list of the 25 most popular Christmas songs includes 12 written by Jews. Billboard has similar findings. Overall, there are at least 22 Christmas songs written by Jews. Beyond Irving Berlin's well-known song, "White Christmas," the tally includes: "The Christmas Song," "Rudolph," "The Christmas Waltz," "Santa Baby," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," and even "Mistletoe" (as sung by Justin Bieber).

"Would You Believe" includes songs and biographical material and an exploration of how the phenomenon came - and continues - to be. The program is hosted by Allen Secher, whose lifetime of radio experience includes, most recently, "You Must Remember This," a regular feature on Montana Public Radio that explores the Great American Songbook. Secher also has a solid Judaic background 

A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble

From The Rose Ensemble | 58:39

This holiday program features over two centuries of festive Christmas dances and songs from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City.

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A Mexican Baroque Christmas with The Rose Ensemble

"Because of the beauty of the music, the variety of the voices, the liveliness of the personalities and the improvisatory support of gentle instruments, the performance was engaging from beginning to end." 
-- The Cleveland Plain Dealer 

Add A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble to your holiday schedule, and your listeners will get a vibrant retelling of the Christmas story with some ancient music that sounds fresh and new today. Mexico in the 17th century was a time of great cultural and musical diversity. Those cross-currents produced church music that was infused with indigenous rhythms and dances. That colorful music is the centerpiece of this gorgeous and engaging Christmas special by the internationally-acclaimed Rose Ensemble. 

This holiday program features over two centuries of festive Christmas dances and songs from the great cathedrals of Puebla and Mexico City. With rich instrumental and percussive accompaniment, solos and choruses burst forth in this program that's a far cry from the same old Christmas show. Plus a couple of surprises for the season in this one hour production.  The music is all rhythmic and tuneful and totally appealing.

Hosted by public radio veteran Tom Crann, with the Rose Ensemble’s Artistic Director, Jordan Sramek, It’s A Mexican Baroque Christmas with the Rose Ensemble.  Add this hour of beautifully performed fresh sounds for the season to your station’s holiday line-up.

complete music listings:  

Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla: Deus in Adiutorium (from The Rose Ensemble’s CD:  Celebremos el Niño)

from live performance: 

Antonio de Salazar:  Atención, atención

Fray Gerónimo Gonzles: Serenissima una Noche   

Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla: A siolo flasiquiyo

William Tans’ur:  The Old Angels Hymn/St. Luke’s Tune/Kimbolton Tune (from The Rose Ensemble’s CD: And Glory Shone Around)

from live performance: 

Antonio de Salazar:  Tarara tarara qui yo soy Anton
Sebastián Durón:  Al Dormir el sol

Fabien Ximeno Perez: Ay ay galeguinos.

Juan Garcia de Zéspedes: Convivando esta la Noche

Sergei Khvoshchinsky: Bogoroditse Devo, raduysia (The Russian Ave Maria from The Rose Ensemble’s CD: Fire of the Soul

An Operavore Christmas

From WQXR | 57:59

WQXR's Naomi Lewin presents an hour of Christmas and holiday music from the world of opera and oratorio sung by some of the greatest singers past and present including Marilyn Horne, Leontyne Price, Bryn Terfel, Thomas Hampson, Joan Sutherland and more.

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Program details:

Traditional: The Twelve Days of Christmas

Joan Sutherland, soprano

New Philharmonia Orchestra

Richard Bonynge, conductor

London/Decca  4756153

 

Traditional: The First Noel

Thomas Hampson, baritone

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Hugh Wolff, conductor

Teldec  73135

 

Traditional: Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabella

Marilyn Horne, mezzo

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Jerold Ottley, conductor

CBS/Sony  63305

 

George Frideric Handel: Messiah: Comfort Ye...Every Valley

Jon Vickers, tenor

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Thomas Beecham, conductor

Met  212

 

Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio: Ach, wann wird die Zeit erscheinen?

Gundula Janowitz, soprano; Christa Ludwig, mezzo; Fritz Wunderlich, tenor

Munich Bach Orchestra

Karl Richter, conductor

Deutsche Grammophon 427236

 

Hall Johnson: Ride On, King Jesus

Leontyne Price, soprano

Studio Orchestra and Chorus

Leonard de Paur, conductor

RCA 61867

 

Engelbert Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel: Abends, will ich schlafen gehn (Evening Hymn)

Hei-Kyung Hong, soprano; Jennifer Larmore, mezzo

Munich Radio Orchestra

Jesus Lopez-Cobos, conductor

Teldec 22801

 

Gian Carlo Menotti: Amahl and the Night Visitors: Have you seen a child?

Lorna Haywood, soprano; John Dobson, tenor; Curtis Watson, bass; Donald Maxwell, baritone

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

David Syrus, conductor

Jay Records 1303

 

Giacomo Puccini: La Boheme: Act II

Victoria de los Angeles, soprano; Lucine Amara, soprano; Jussi Bjoerling, tenor; Robert Merrill, baritone; John Reardon, baritone; Giorgio Tozzi, bass

RCA Victor Orchestra; RCA Victor Chorus; The Columbus Boychoir

Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor

Angel/EMI 56236

 

George Frideric Handel: Joy to the World

Anna Moffo, soprano

Studio Orchestra and Chorus

Met 212

 

Ralph Blaine; Hugh Martin: Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Bryn Terfel, baritone

Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera

Tecwyn Evans, conductor

Deutsche Grammophon 1491472

 

Jose Feliciano: Feliz Navidad

The Three Tenors

Vienna Symphony Orchestra; Gumpoldskirch Boys Choir

Steven Mercurio, conductor

Sony 89131

'Tis the Season

From With Good Reason | Part of the With Good Reason: Weekly Half Hour Long Episodes series | 28:56

A poet, an ethnomusicologist, a conductor, and a vocalist share their favorite Christmas songs and why the music resonates with them this time of year.

Harp_small Whether it’s a traditional hymn or a rock n' roll Christmas song, many people say Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the music that marks this season. The sense of joy, comfort, or spiritual uplift comes in classical, popular, jazz, and even world music. A poet, an ethnomusicologist, a conductor, and a vocalist share their favorite songs and why the music resonates with them this time of year.

Celebrating 25 Years of the Film Fargo with Author Todd Melby

From KSRQ | Part of the Community Voices series | 27:01

Glen Braget chats with Todd Melby, author of A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere: The Untold Story of the Making of Fargo. In early 2021, the Coen Brothers film celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Fargibook_small Glen Braget chats with Todd Melby, author of A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere: The Untold Story of the Making of Fargo. In early 2021, the Coen Brothers film celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Summer Soundtrack Special

From KUFM - Montana Public Radio | Part of the MTPR Music Specials series | 58:56

The music of summer, with music selections by Michael Marsolek at Montana Public Radio.

Mtpr-logo-1400-square_small Michael Marsolek - Program Director has been producing music shows and specials for the Montana Public Radio network since 1989. This freeform music show has a variety of music with a summer theme. This hour is all music and is free for any station.

May the Fourth Be with Us!— American Routes Independence Day Then & Now

From American Routes | Part of the American Routes Specials series | 01:59:01

A 4th of July special program free to all stations with music from Nina Simone, Randy Newman, Sly Stone and Jon Batiste, plus live performances from The American Roots Independence Day concerts from Charles Brown, the Texas Playboys with Johnny Gimble, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Young Tuxedo Brass, Ledward Kaapana and Clyde "Kindy" Sproat.

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This July 4th weekend, we bring you music of celebration and critique, in this hopeful yet troubled time with an hour of words and music from Nina Simone, Randy Newman, Sly Stone and Jon Batiste. Then, the July 4th roots of American Routes. The program began with a series of Independence Day concerts held annually at the Washington Monument before the fireworks show on the National Mall. The live broadcasts featured the best of American vernacular musicians and cultures. In this hour, we highlight spectacular stage performances by the urbane blues hero Charles Brown, the Texas Playboys with Johnny Gimble playing Western swing, Mexican-American Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, the Young Tuxedo Brass with New Orleans jazz, and Hawaiian music and song from Ledward Kaapana and Clyde "Kindy" Sproat. The program, originally directed and hosted by Nick Spitzer, was produced by the National Park Service, National Folk Festival, Radio Smithsonian and WAMU FM for live broadcast on NPR nationwide between 1993-2001. 

Labor Day Music Special - One Hour or Two Hours

From KUFM - Montana Public Radio | Part of the MTPR Music Specials series | 59:01

Two 1 hour music specials for Labor Day or Labor Day Weekend.
Each hour is newscast compatible. Each hour stands alone and either hour can be chosen and can be played in any order. Would work for playing back to back or on subsequent days etc. 95% music.

Mtpr-logo-1400-square_medium_small One or two hour music specials for Labor Day or Labor Day Weekend. Two hours of hand-picked music. Program Director Michael Marsolek has been producing music shows and holiday specials for more than 25 years.

The Christmas Chronicles: A Christmas Radio Drama in 8 Episodes (Series)

Produced by BYUradio/KUMT/KBYU-FM

Most recent piece in this series:

Episode 8: The Word

From BYUradio/KUMT/KBYU-FM | Part of the The Christmas Chronicles: A Christmas Radio Drama in 8 Episodes series | 28:02

Episode_8_christmas_chronicles_image_small A victory in the epic battle of the demon versus the reindeer, means Klaus can keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Richard Johnstone narrates.

Resurrection

From Wind & Rhythm | 58:30

As far as the Christian Church is concerned, Easter is the biggest event ever. I have seen the festival of the resurrection from many perspectives and whether you celebrate with huge choirs and the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel, a festive folk ensemble, telling it on the mountain, or other modern expressions, this is the big day. The message is one of hope and the lesson to be learned is that death isn’t the end. An amazing story.

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The mission of Wind and Rhythm is to build a community of individuals who love wind bands; to grow a wider audience for the music bands play; and to provide a venue for band members and directors to speak about their art.

To accomplish our mission we produce both on-air and on-line programming that invites listeners to reconnect with their roots as members of bands; encourages listeners to participate in community music-making; and provides for listeners an opportunity to hear the best bands in the world.

The Easter Connection

From Capital Public Radio | Part of the Connections series | 59:00

The Easter season, and the music it inspires, combine tragedy and triumph, sorrow and celebration—joining with the coming of spring as a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life. Join host Stephen Peithman for orchestral and vocal works by Bach, Handel, Wagner and Rimsky-Korsakov.

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The program begins with:

I'm Stephen Peithman. Welcome to Connections.

 

Music: 01 - Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36, 00:00 - 00:15, then under           [:15]

            Marche Slav, track 4                                                                  00:03-01:29        [1:26]

 

The Easter season combines both sorrow and celebration. There’s another element, as well, for tradition places Easter near the spring equinox. And so, just as Christmas and winter are intertwined, Easter and spring are, as well--with Christ’s death and resurrection linked symbolically with nature’s rebirth, after the darkness and cold of winter.

 

All this is reflected in the extraordinary music we’ll hear in the next hour, including works by Bach, Handel, Pergolesi, Wagner and Rimsky-Korsakov.

 

Music up full, 00:44 - 00:54, then under                                                                         [:10]

 

The full Easter season begins with Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes the celebration of the Last Supper, Good Friday (on which Christ’s death is observed), and, finally Easter Sunday, the day the New Testament proclaims he rose from the dead.

 

Most people associate Handel’s Messiah with Christmas, but it was first performed in April of 1742, and its second half covers the principal events of Passover, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

 

Five years later, Handel borrowed music from Messiah’s Easter section for one of his Concerti a due cori—in which the orchestra is divided into two large groups that repeat and respond to one another

 

It’s essentially an instrumental arrangement of a chorus in Messiah that begins, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and the King of glory shall come in.”

 

Music: 02 - Concerto a Due Cori 2.3 A tempo giusto, 00:01+ - 02:48                    2:02-4:49           [2:47]

            Handel: Coronation Anthems, Concerti a Due Cori, track 7

           

Trevor Pinnock led the English Concert in Handel’s Concerto a due cori in F major, from 1747, re-purposing music from the Easter section of the composer’s oratorio, Messiah, from 1742.

Chanukah Memories and Melodies

From WQXR | 58:00

In this special from WQXR, six prominent artists share memories of Chanukah, and the music the holiday brings to mind. From soothing to surprising, from reverent to rowdy, their musical choices will inspire and delight you.

With Broadway actress Tovah Feldshuh, social entrepreneur Aaron Dworkin, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Sephardic music virtuoso Daphna Mor, conductor Eric Jacobsen, and Yiddish music maven Henry Sapoznik.

Hosted by WQXR's Elliott Forrest.

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Program playlist:

Chanukah, oh Chanukah
Traditional
Daphna Mor, recorder 

Candle Blessings
From “Hanukkah Cantata”
Music by David Ludwig
Choral Arts Philadelphia
Matthew Glandorf, conductor

Al Hanisim
Traditional
Jan Peerce, tenor
Gershon Kingsley, conductor

Shalom, Santa
Music by Douglas J. Cohen
Lyrics by Tom Toce, Additional material by Judy Gold
Sung by Tovah Feldshuh
Scott Cady, piano 

Hanukkah Dance
Written and performed by Woody Guthrie 

Tenebrae
By Osvaldo Golijov

Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, B. 166, “Dumky,” Third movement (Andante)
By Antonín Dvořák

Weilerstein Trio
Donald Weilerstein, violin
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, piano 

Break Music:
Chanike Oy Chanike
Sruli and Lisa

Ner Li
Music by Daniel Samburski
Words by Levin Kipnis
Sung by Daphna Mor and by Pizmon, the co-ed pluralistic Jewish a cappella group of Columbia University, Barnard College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary

Mi Yimalel
By Menashe Ravina
Arranged by Marc Lavry
Kol Zion Lagola Choir

Hazeremos una merenda 
Kita’l tas
Traditional
Arranged by Nell Snaidas
Daphna Mor, recorder
Adam Good, oud
Rex Benincasa, percussion
Singers:
Tracy Cowart
Ilana Davidson
Michele Kennedy
Daphna Mor
Sian Ricketts
Nell Snaidas
Kirsten Sollek
From a live performance at New York Public Radio, December 3, 2018

Piano Trio no. 2, Op. 66 in C minor, Second movement (Andante espressivo)
By Felix Mendelssohn
Colin Jacobsen, violin
Eric Jacobsen, cello
Ieva Jokūbavičiūtė, piano
From NPR’s Performance Today, November 19, 2005

Haneros Haluli
Traditional, arranged by Colin Jacobsen
The Knights orchestra
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Colin Jacobsen, violin soloist 

Haneros Haluli
Traditional
H. Steiner, violin
Cimbalom player unidentified 

Dance of the Dreydls
Based on Dance of the Reed Flutes from The Nutcracker, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arranged by Michael Mclaughlin
Performed by Shirim
Glenn Dickson, clarinet
Gary Bohan, trumpet
Dan Fox, trombone
Jim Gray, tuba
Michael Mclaughlin, accordion
Eric Rosenthal, drums

Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl
Yiddish version by Mikhl Gelbart
Sung by Henry Sapoznik

B’rikh Sh’meh
Prayer when opening the ark before reading the Torah
Sung by Zindel Sapoznik
Pianist unidentified
Recorded in a Displaced Persons camp in Linz, Austria, 1947 

(I’m Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica
Written and performed by Tom Lehrer

Maoz Tsur
From “To Celebrate a Miracle”
Arranged by Samuel Adler
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony
Rodney Winther, Conductor

'Tis the Season

From With Good Reason | 28:57

It's time to rock around the Christmas tree.

Harp_small Everybody's heard Bing Crosby dream of a white Christmas and the Beach Boys harmonize about a little Saint Nick, but how about The Ronettes singing Santa Claus Is Coming To Town?  Poet Tim Siebles, ethnomusicologist Ann Rasmussen, conductor John Guthmiller and vocalist Lisa Edwards-Burrs share some lesser known holiday songs and explain why the music resonates with them this time of year.

Tis the Season (half)

From With Good Reason | Part of the With Good Reason: Weekly Half Hour Long Episodes series | 28:56

Christmas music from jazz, to blues, to classical to world music, all introduced by artists, musicians, and writers.

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Whether it’s a traditional hymn or a rock and roll Christmas song, many people say Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the music that marks this season.  The sense of joy, comfort, or spiritual uplift comes in classical, popular, jazz, and even world music.  Poet Time Siebles, ethnomusicologist Ann Rasmussen, conductor John Guthmiller, and vocalist Lisa Edwards-Burns, share their favorite songs and why the music resonates with them this time of year.