Classical music countdown.

[swag]

KBPS at http://www.allclassical.org is doing its annual countdown of the 100 classical music favorites of all time as voted on by its listeners.

It's usually pretty good listening, even though the results were arrived at through a democratic process.

[Richardo]

1. Is Pachelbel's 'Canon' the 'Stairway to Heaven' of classical music?

Is it a lock for #1? I hope not.

A beautiful piece, but way overplayed.

[swag]

7. Good call on the Hairway to Steven,

but I don't think it will be number one.

I'm looking for last year's top 100 list online.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. KBPS! I used to volunteer for them

Good people and not a Republican in the bunch. :-)

[swag]

8. Did Shaun Yu work for them back then?

I don't know him, but have swapped much email with him, and have seen him at chamber music concerts and the like.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Yes

Like everyone else on the staff, he's pleasant and unpretentious.

[Radio_Lady]

18. We see him at the informational talk held by the conductor before the

Saturday concert.

He's a delightful Korean man without the hint of any accent. Very well-spoken fellow -- very calming while driving in traffic.

I love to listen to him!

Shaun Yu
On-Air Host
shaun(AT)allclassical.org

Born in Korea and an Oregon resident since 1986, Shaun Yu is the morning voice on All Classical 89.9. A father of two delightful children, Shaun is an avid golfer and can often be found hiking or backpacking in the Columbia Gorge or the Mt. Hood National Forest.

An alumnus of Lewis and Clark College, Shaun also enjoys tennis, skiing, in-line skating and is always up for a game of Trivial Pursuit.

Shaun hosts pre-concert conversations at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Oregon Symphony Music Director, Carlos Kalmar.

[Radio_Lady]

20. What did you do there? I volunteer for "Golden Hours" at Oregon Public Broadcasting.

I don't like to stuff envelopes, but they gave me my own pre-recorded weekly show. I used to work for Audience Services answering the telephone, but they eliminated that as a volunteer job.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

32. I was one of their regular volunteer receptionists,

taking a half-day shift once a week. This was a system that they started when the Portland Public Schools cut them loose and they had very little money. They're much more financially secure now, so I don't know what they do at this point. I stayed on for nearly ten years because I enjoyed the work so much.

It was fun answering all the weird phone calls ("Why didn't you call and tell me about the schedule change?") and meeting all the celebrities and local musicians and other artists (Christopher Parkening, Monica Huggett, David Finkel and Wu Han, Trey McIntire, Jon Nakamatsu, Murray Sidlin) who came for interviews.

I also did general clerical work, especially during pledge drives.

[Radio_Lady]

44. I've tried to pick up a few pledge shifts, but they like to get companies

with lots of people. I haven't done one for ages.

My volunteer work includes producing my own show -- contacting movie and book publicists, scheduling telephone or in-studio guests seeing movie previews locally, writing reviews, reading books, etc.

It's about 20 hours a week. OK for me right now. If you ever want to hear my show on your computer, go to my journal page http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Radio_Lady

The show is 50 minutes long, and begins at approximately 1:05 PM on Mondays (except for holiday Mondays, when it is preempted and plays on Tuesday!)

In the right column are the instructions to the OPB link.

Thanks for posting!

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[Lydia Leftcoast]

47. Large companies for pledge drives?

Last time I was involved in a KBPS pledge drive (2003), the phone answering crew consisted of six people in a back room with a coffee urn and a box of doughnuts. I'm not sure where they'd put a large phone crew in their building, which could fit comfortably inside the OPB building.

[Radio_Lady]

51. OPB uses the large main TV studio for pledge drives... plenty of room.

Unfortunately, that studio is usually empty at other times, due to the lack of real local television in this area. They do company parties there, and I understand that they may even rent it for a variety of purposes.

It's pretty sad. Boston and Miami TV stations produced many more local programs in the eras when I lived in those cities.

OPB does solicit sponsor companies to send their personnel for the TV pledge drives. It's not unusual for them to send a bunch of people.

[GirlinContempt]

3. Does opera count?

[Richardo]

4. As music?

:hide:

[GirlinContempt]

6. plebeian

[swag]

9. Oh yeah.

[GirlinContempt]

30. Some people don't include opera in the lower-case classical definition

[swag]

40. Some people say little girls should be seen and not heard,

but I say, "OH, BONDAGE! UP YOURS!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAL_j-f8gmA

[GirlinContempt]

42. GREAT track

[swag]

14. Hey, see? Puccini.

Some may consider Puccini kitsch, but he always pulled the moisture to my loins.

I wish they wouldn't play Gershwin on this station, I will say that.

[Richardo]

17. I've never been able to develop an appreciation for opera...

...now Gershwin on the other hand, I love, but I have a hard time considering his music 'classical'. I always want to look for his stuff under 'jazz'.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

45. Did you know they put the words up in English now?

This really ticks me off. I have had this conversation with several people:

Me: Do you like opera?
Them: No.

Me: Have you ever been to one?
Them: No.

Me: Then how do you know you don't like it?
Them:

Me: Did you know that they put the words up now in English, over the stage, so you can follow the plot?
Them: No.

Me: When they started putting the words up in English, it opened a whole new world to me. I understood the power of great art. It illustrates the Human Condition. Mozart was a master psychologist in his operas.

Me: Did you know that the special effects, staging, lighting, etc. is just as advanced as Broadway shows?
Them: No.

Me: Did you know that those love duets have turned into nearly-horizontal bops?
Them: No.

Me: Did you know that they don't just sing, they act too, now?
Them: No.

Me: You must think opera is Porky Pig in Brunnhilde horns screeching Wagner. That's not the way it is. .

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

No, I don't like Richard Strauss operas, but live and with English Surtitles(TM), even Wagner can be enjoyable. I enjoyed five hours and fifteen minutes of Parsifal, (that was including a couple of 20 minute intermissions) much to my amazement.

[Richardo]

48. LOL - great dialogue there, Perragrande

:rofl:

It's not the words, or even the music I can't appreciate, it's the mode of delivery. I just can't appreciate operatic singing - it does not sound good to me.

(Note that I'm taking this all on myself and not disparaging the form or those who DO appreciate it.)

[Radio_Lady]

19. I adore Puccini and Bizet. I don't care for German opera.

Why don't you care for Gershwin?

I used to have this poster of "Madame Butterfly" on my wall when I was younger.

[swag]

25. I like Gershwin just fine,

but I don't want to hear his music on a classical station.

[Radio_Lady]

22. Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Just a beautiful painting! (PHOTO)

[GirlinContempt]

29. Mozart does it for me

But La Boheme was a marvelous piece of work. O Soave Fanciulla still brings a tear to the old eye, kitschy or not. Makes a lovely telephone ring as well.

[swag]

38. Mozart is playing now, and it might be an overture,

though it also might be a symphony.

I can't tell.

I just know it's Mozart.

Update: It was "Jupiter," aka the 41st symphony.

[GirlinContempt]

41. I like operatic Mozart

I say as I blast my ears off with 'When Ya Get Drafted'

[tigereye]

5. hey Swag!

I'll check it out.


Having a good holiday? Are you in the hinterland?

[swag]

10. Hey, tigereye.

It was a good enough holiday. At least I wasn't working. Stayed in Portland, though. But was generally super-stressed, getting ready for this next art show which will be the last one for nine months (happy to say).

How was your holiday? Did any other family join you, or did you join them? Did your son have a good time?

[tigereye]

35. we usually have X-mas Eve dinner here

my h is a very good cook - he baked French bread and nut rolls, and he had a really nice menu with spinach lasagna, Greek salad, and his special X-mas red pepper and chicken curry dish. My son is climbing out from a pile of Star Wars vids and Steeler paraphernalia, as we speak.

I got cool jewelry made from compressed heather - and the new Robyn Hitchcock CD.

When is your show or did it already happen? I hope it goes well!

[speedoo]

12. Thanks swag, good stuff.,

I slept late so I missed a couple of my favorites.

Hope you are having a good holiday. My son and his SO (from Portland) are here and they brought good Oregon vibes with them, so it's been good to see them again.

[swag]

13. Excellent report.

Please let me know when you are in town. We shall gather at the pub. We have a couple picked out in your son's neighborhood.

[speedoo]

15. I will let you know and I look forward to it.

Almost certainly within six months.

[speedoo]

16. My fearless Top Ten prediction:

Beethoven and Mozart will be included.

I may refine this prediction later on.

[Radio_Lady]

21. Thanks, Speedoo! Beethoven always used to win the top spot at WCRB in Boston.

Beethoven's Chorale Symphony #9...

http://www.wcrb.com/

[Radio_Lady]

24. Here's the Top 40 Classical list from W-BACH, in Boston.

The WBACH Top 40

Thursday November 30, 2006

40) Beethoven - Violin Concerto in D

39) Suppé - Overture from “Poet and Peasant”

38) Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue

37) Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries

36) Mozart - Symphony #40

35) Elgar - Enigma Variations

34) Holst - “Jupiter” from “The Planets”

33) Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien

32) Mozart - Horn Concerto #1

31) Brahms - Symphony #2

30) J. S. Bach - Brandenburg Concerto #2

29) Sibelius - Finlandia

28) Mozart - Piano Sonata #11

27) Beethoven - Symphony #5

26) Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto #2

25) Mendelssohn - Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

24) Mozart - Serenade #13 “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”

23) Schubert - Symphony #9 “Great”

22) Vaughn Williams - Fantasia on “Greensleeves”

21) Debussy - Clair de Lune

20) J.S. Bach - Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

19) Saint-Saens - Symphony #3 “Organ”

18) Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto #1

17) Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor

16) Beethoven - Piano Concerto #5 “Emperor”

15) J.S. Bach - Double Violin Concerto in D minor

14) Beethoven - Symphony #3 “Eroica”

13) J. Strauss Jr. - Tales From The Vienna Woods

12) Berlioz - Harold In Italy

11) Beethoven - Piano Sonata #14 “Moonlight”

10) Verdi - “Nabucco” overture

9) Ravel - Bolero

8) Glinka - Overture from “Ruslan and Ludmilla”

7) Dvorak - Symphony #9 “From The New World”

6) Rossini - Overture from “William Tell”

5) Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A

4) Copland - Appalachian Spring

3) Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

1) tie! Pachelbel - Canon in D

1) tie! Beethoven - Symphony #9

[speedoo]

28. Interesting.

Nice to see Finlandia on the list. Although I would personally place it much higher. One of my top ten, for sure.

Thanks!

[Karenina]

33. War horses ALL!!!

Lightweight populist PAP!!!

:evilgrin: :hide: :evilgrin:

[Mendocino]

39. No Grieg in their top forty?

Philistines!

[swag]

26. We'll have to keep this kicked through Saturday to make sure

you are correct.

[speedoo]

27. Uh-oh.

Pressure's on.

[Dinger]

23. I Can't Find The Poll

I see the past 4, and the current one, which asks about classical piece most associated with Christmas.
I'm dumb.

My most favorite classical piece is Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto # 1 in B flat minor.

[swag]

34. I bet that makes it.

Here's the voting page:

http://www.allclassical.org/pages/top100countdown_2006_b.php5

Looks like you had to get your licks in before December 15.

Not sure when they'll publish the top 100.

[swimboy]

31. Hey Humphrey!

How about 25 cents for a real small soda?

I had a real lengthy, witty and pertinent response to your fine thread and it vanished into the ether. Piss! There it went.

Anyway, I hope you've had a fine holiday and that your classical Tops stretch the populace a little more than such a survey would hereabouts. If I weren't opposed to censorship, I would seek a court injunction against the Moldau. We do have a great program host by the name of Grete Dollitz who is gloriously unrestrained and sure to play several pieces singular and obscure that you have never heard or even imagined before. When her shift is over, however, back we go to Mozart and the soundtrack from Chocolat. :eyes: Lucky for WCVE, the Norfolk station doesn't quite reach us here.

I've got it pretty good, though. A few years ago a strange old man sold me an amulet that protects me from the Merry Pranks of Til Eulenspiegel or I'd be blogging from the Pavilion by now.

Cheers!

[Karenina]

37. What a wonderful world it would be...

were we able to expand the consciousness to include

Petrouchka (Stravinsky)

Symphony for Concert Band (Persichetti)

Dances of Galanta (Kodaly)

ANY MAJOR WORK BY AARON COPELAND...

ALL of which are aurally easily accessible. Were I the DJ of the world I'd also spin the Brahms Piano Quintet often enough that folks be drawn in...

The populist fluff contributes to the death of the classics.

[Squeech]

49. Agreed

although I'd go even further in the 20th century direction.

Stravinsky's "Firebird" Suite duked it out with "Rhapsody in Blue" and Beethoven's "Pastorale" as my favorite orchestra music when I was a kid.

Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra," or "Miraculous Mandarin," both perfectly accessible (at least if you can handle "Sheherezade").

There's a bunch of tuneful Hindemith, my favorite being his wind quintet "Kleine Kammermusik."

Even to think of the Second Vienna School scares people, but there's a lot to like about "Five Pieces for Orchestra" by Arnold Schoenberg (opus 16).

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Philip Glass's soundtrack music to "Koyaanisqatsi." Gorgeous.

[CTyankee]

36. The Canon in D is a nice piece, but I like "Sheep May Safely Graze"

by Bach better. It gets overshadowed by "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" more often than it should.

I am moving more and more towards Brahms myself.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. Cool station!

Thanks for the link! :-)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

46. Bet Frank Zappa and the London Sym. Orchestra would not make that list. n/t

[swag]

50. We're up to #64 in the countdown.

Enigma Variations, Op. 36

[terrya]

52. Would it be fair to say that this would be in the countdown?

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/pages.html?cart=337630486236740597&target=smp_detail.html%26sku%3DHL.44002650&s=pages-www.google.com/search&e=/sheetmusic/detail/HL.44002650.html&t=&k=&r=wwws-err5

Has been almost ubiquitous over the years...from commercials to films like "The Hunger"