Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Dec. 3, 2009 edition of the Inland Register)

Spokane’s Public Radio affiliate, KPBX, 91.1 FM, is offering a full slate of Christmas programming in story and song again this year, . Some highlights include:

Friday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.-noon: “A Vermont Christmas with Counterpoint .” Highlights of holiday concerts by Counterpoint, Vermont’s premier choral ensemble.

Friday, Dec. 11, 11 a.m.-noon: “Chanukah in Story and Song.” The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble performs Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews, Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe and modern Israeli tunes. Leonard Nimoy hosts.

Monday, Dec. 14, 7-9 p.m.: Local Christmas Concerts, including the Spokane Jazz Orchestra of Dec. 5: Holiday Songs of Nat King Cole with Horace Alexander Young.

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 11 a.m.-noon: “Happy Holidays with The Matinee.” A Broadway Matinee favorite celebrating stage and screen songs for the winter holidays.
• 10-11 p.m.: “Piano Jazz Christmas.” Guest artists include George Shearing, Tony DeSare and Dena DeRose.

Thursday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-noon: “Guitar Hour Christmas Special.” Classical guitar music for the holidays.
• 7-8 p.m.: “The Record Shelf: Legendary Recordings of The Messiah.”

Friday, Dec. 18, 11 a.m.-noon: “Christmas with the Philadelphia Singers.” Traditional and contemporary holiday music, recorded live at The Singers’ annual “Christmas on Logan Square” performance.

Saturday, Dec. 19, 1-2 p.m.: “Fascinatin’ Rhythm’ Home for Christmas.”

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2-3 p.m.: “Ornaments and Icing.” Some of the songs are familiar, but the interpretations are all new! With new holiday songs and old favorites, listen to artists’ anecdotes about the season. And, a take-a-turn reading of The Night Before Christmas.
• 4-5 p.m.: “Selected Shorts Holiday Special.” “The H Street Sledding Record,” by Ron Carlson, read by Keith Szarabajka; “Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor,” by John Cheever, read by Malachy McCourt; “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” by James Thurber.

Monday, Dec. 21, 11 a.m.-noon: “Mother of God: A Portrait in Song.” Performances by the Carmel Bach Festi-val’s orchestra and chorale and the local symphonic chorus. The composers span the globe from the 12th-20th century, and feature beautiful, reflective a cappella.
• 7-9 p.m.: “Holiday Concerts from Area Colleges.” Selections from the region’s university programs.

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 11 a.m.-noon: “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Hosted by Judy Collins. A tour around the nation and beyond to hear musical takes on the holiday season from folk artists, complete with the stories behind the music. The show includes originals along with rarely heard traditional carols, a few holiday favorites, and two Hanukkah pieces.
• 7-8 p.m.: “Harmonia: Noel, Noel.” A Christian expression of joy, the word “noel” has been associated with Christmas for hundreds of years. Harmonia looks at its many guises in music from the Middle Ages to the early baroque.

Thursday, Dec. 24, 9 a.m.-noon. “Handel’s Messiah.” The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and chorus perform the magnificent and chilling Messiah.
• Noon-1p.m.: “Vinyl Café Christmas Special.” A special from Convocation Hall in Toronto.
• Midnight-1 a.m.: “Lessons and Carols from Washington National Cathedral.” This quietly spectacular Christmas Eve service combines Biblical readings that chronicle the story of Jesus’ birth with age-old and all-new carols, from folk to ethereal polyphony, concluded with the contemplative hush of “Silent Night.”

Christmas Day: Friday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.-noon: Advent and Vespers from Apollo’s Fire. Apollo’s Fire gives a rousing, vital performance of music that the early 17th century German composer Michael Praetorius might have used at Lutheran services for Advent and Christmas Day Vespers. The concert features strings, winds, children’s and adult’s voices, and period brass including sackbuts, trumpets, and cornetti.
• Noon-1 p.m.: A good old-fashioned holiday special just like the ones you used to know.
• 1-4 p.m.: “Jazz on a Christmas Afternoon.”
• 4-5 p.m.: “Jonathan Winter’s A Christmas Carol.” A radio retelling of the classic Dickens tale.
• 7-8 p.m.: “’40s Radio Christmas.” Celebrate radio before the advent of TV.