Holiday Programming 2008 VPR Holiday Programming Friday, December 19 8-9pm Piano Jazz Christmas with Marian McPartland Sunday, December 21 1-4pm All The Traditions: The Light Show. Robert Resnik marks the transition from darkness to light, on the day of the Winter Solstice. 7:30-8pm Willem Lange's "New England Christmas" 8-9pm Chanukah in Story and Song. A Chanukah celebration by The Western Wind performing Ladino songs of Spanish Jews, Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe and modern Israeli tunes. Hosted by Leonard Nemoy. 9-10pm Northern Lights, a Solstice Celebration. Cheryl Willoughby rings in the Solstice with a celebration of dancing and music-making to warm the spirit at the darkest time of the year. 10-midnight A Paul Winter Solstice Concert. From New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Paul Winter Consort welcomes Eugene Friesen, Paul Sullivan, Brazilian percussionist Cafè, and "Icarus" double-reed man Paul McCandless. This year's celebration also marks the debut of Apache singer John-Carlos Perea. John Schaefer hosts. 1
p. 2 Monday, December 22 8-9pm Hannukah Lights 2008. A perennial NPR favorite, now well into its second decade. Acclaimed authors explore Hanukkah traditions in original stories written expressly for Hanukkah Lights. Hosted by Murray Horwitz and Susan Stamberg. 9-10pm Happy Joyous Hannukah. Murray Horwitz hosts a concert with the NY City-based Grammy-award-winning band, the Klezmatics. Wednesday, December 24: Christmas eve 7:49am - Willem Lange's "Favor Johnson" (during Morning Edition) 10am-Noon A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Michael Barone hosts a live broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England, featuring the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music as performed by the King's College Choir. Noon-1pm Willem Lange s "A Christmas Carol" 1-2pm Choirs and Carols: An NPR Christmas. Musicians from around the world bring their customs and singing traditions to the NPR performance studios; from Finland and Latvia to Pittsburgh, and Russia! 6-6:30pm A Car Talk Christmas Carol. This updated version of the holiday classic features Tom and Ray Magliozzi and a stellar cast of public radio personalities including Robert Siegel as Bob Cratchit! 8-9pm A Counterpoint Christmas 2008. A treasured Vermont tradition, Robert DeCormier leads Vermont s twelve-member choral ensemble in their annual Christmas concert. Counterpoint sings a wide selection of international carols celebrating the rich traditions of the holiday the whole world over. 9-10pm Christmas Classics. VPR Classical host Joe Goetz shares seasonal favorites. 10pm-12am Handel's "Messiah". A special presentation with Walter Parker.
p. 3 Thursday, December 25 Christmas 12pm Christmas with the Philadelphia Singers. Performance by the much-loved Philadelphia Singers of traditional and contemporary holiday music. Hosted by Ed Cunningham. 1pm Christmas Around the Country. Holiday music-making from coast to coast featuring performances from churches to concert halls to town halls across the nation. 2pm Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs. One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges - two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation - get together to present a joyous and inspiring program with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. 6-6:30pm A New England Christmas with Willem Lange. Thursday, December 31 New Year's Eve 6-7pm Capital Steps "Politics Takes a Holiday New Year's Edition" 8pm-12am New Year's Eve Party with George Thomas. Get set to dance! From swingin' big bands and funky world music to the to the sweet zydeco sounds of New Orleans and beyond George sends the old year out with a one-of-a-kind musical bang! 12am-5am Toast of the Nation. Count down to 2009 this New Year's Eve live party music from coast-to-coast: from a Sonicbloom in Boston, to a Pink Martini in Los Angeles, from ribs and Mingus in New York to black-eyed peas and a licorice stick in New Orleans it's an all-night dance party, with four midnights!
p. 4 VPR Classical Holiday Programming Thursday, December 18 8-9pm - The Rose Ensemble: An Early American Christmas. One of America's premiere early music ensemble features Shaker tunes, Acadian dances, and other Appalachian treasures in their new program. 9-10pm: Carols for Dancing. Ellen Kushner explores connections between familiar holiday music and Renaissance and Medieval dances. Friday, December 19 8-9pm - Northern Lights. Join Cheryl Willoughby in a singing, dancing celebration of life, and light at darkest time of the year. 9-10pm - The Christmas Revels. In Celebration of the Winter Solstice Music and the special traditions of the winter holidays: Christmas, the Solstice, New Year's and Twelfth Night - with carols, songs, and folk dances from live Christmas Revels performances around the country. Monday, December 22 8-10pm - Handel's "Messiah". Walter Parker hosts.
p. 5 Tuesday, December 23 8-9pm: A Chanticleer Christmas. Celebrate the mystery and wonder of Christmas with an elegant blend of traditional carols, medieval and Renaissance sacred works, and moving spirituals. The San Francisco based men's chorus, Chanticleer, is one of the world's best male choruses, recognized worldwide for their brilliant technique and musicality. This year's program will be recorded live on December 10th in San Francisco. 9-10pm: Christmas with the Philadelphia Singers. Traditional and contemporary music with the Singers. Wednesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve 8-9pm - Conspirare: Christmas at the Carillon. The Austin, TX choir of 38 voices is America's best-kept musical secret. They offer a fresh take on Christmas, blending sacred and secular songs as well as centuries-old classics and pop standards. 9-10pm - Christmas Classics. Joe Goetz shares seasonal favorites. Thursday, December 25 - Christmas 8-9pm - A Vermont Christmas with Counterpoint. Robert DeCormier & Counterpoint. 9-10pm - Echoes of Christmas. The Dale Warland Singers offered magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years. Drawing upon the extensive archive of their live performances, Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse create a very special Christmas musical treat. Thursday, January 1 - New Year's Day 11am-1pm - New Year's Day from Vienna 2009. Ring in the New Year with guest conductor Daniel Barenboim and the Vienna Philharmonic, live from the beautiful Golden Hall of the Musikverein.