On Demand
WNYC 2008 Holiday Specials
Celebrate with WNYC
Soundcheck “Critics Week” with the Best of 2008 picks
December 15-19 at 2pm
Monday – Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop, Tuesday – Smackdown on Music Critics, Wednesday – Classical and Jazz, Thursday – Latin and World, Friday – worst albums of the year and results of the listener poll on the best albums of 2008.
Holiday Musical Alternatives
From the winter song ritual know as the Koliada to the annual Sephardic Music Festival, WNYC's Rob Weisberg has picked out some of the most unique holiday music events in the city.More
A Great Miracle Happened There: A Hanukkah Special
December 21 at 1pm on AM 820
A conversation between Rabbi Ismar Schorsch and Host Larry Josephson about the history, rituals, foods and meaning of Hanukkah--and its importance to American Jews in our time. Cantors David Lefkowitz and Elisheva Dienstfrey sing the music of Hanukkah.
More
The 39th Annual Jonathan Schwartz Christmas show
December 21 at 12pm on 93.9 FM
Guest list includes: Charles Osgood, Mandy Patinkin, Stephen Holden, John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, Andy Bergman, John Weidman, Deborah Solomon, Hilary Kole, Michael Feinstein, Tierney Sutton, Loston Harris, Lee Musiker, Mike Renzi, Jay Leonhart, John Guare
Lights of the Season
December 21 at 8pm on 93.9 FM
In honor of the winter solstice and the first night of Hanukah, host David Garland offers musical light on the longest night of the year. Musicians have often been inspired to express and depict a sense of light and illumination through music. Drawing on a wide range of styles, Garland will include James Blackshaw, "Transient Light in Twilight"; Philip Glass, "The Light"; Evenlyn Glennie, "Light In Darkness"; Nico, "Evening of Light"; Animal Collective, "Hey Light"; John Rutter, "Hymn to the Creator of Light"; Lou Harrison, "Solstice"; Gyorgy Ligeti, "Lux Aeterna"; Morten Lauridsen, "Lux Aeterna"; Incredible String Band, "Light In Time Of Darkness."
Soundcheck "Music To Shop By"
December 22 at 2pm
Listeners tell us what holiday music is playing in stores this season.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
December 24 at 10AM on 93.9 FM
In 1918, the then-new dean of King's Chapel, 34-year-old Eric Milner-White, wanted to try something innovative and beyond the standard liturgy of the Church of England. So, he wove together scripture and song, called on readers of various ages from school and town, and made up this truly magical progression that carries us from prophecy to fulfillment, from Old Testament foretelling to a birthday celebration.
More
Leonard Lopate’s Christmas Gospel Music Special
December 24 at 12PM
Leonard celebrates Christmas with his annual holiday gospel music special.
Soundcheck – 50 Greatest Christmas Carols
December 24 at 2PM on 93.9 FM
“In The Bleak Midwinter” is the world’s best Christmas carol, according to a poll of leading choirmasters and choral experts from the UK and US. The song came out top in a poll conducted by The BBC Music magazine poll, placing above well-known carols “Silent Night,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Once in Royal David's City.” Oliver Condy, editor of BBC Music joins us to share the results.
Terrance McKnight’s Holiday Sing
December 24 at 7pm on 93.9 FM
Evening Music host Terrance McKnight plays vocal ensemble music for the season.
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio from Carnegie Hall
December 24 at 9pm on 93.9 FM
John Schaefer hosts this presentation of a Carnegie Hall concert performance of selections from one of the most joyful and sumptuous works from Johann Sebastian Bach. The Collegiate Chorale performs three of six sacred cantatas, each depicting a different scene from Christ's birth, known collectively as the Weihnachts-Oratorium, or Christmas Oratorio, along with some traditional holiday favorites.
New Sounds Christmas Special
December 24 at 11pm on 93.9 FM
Brand New Sounds for a New Sounds Christmas.
Vox Vocal Ensemble from the Guggenheim
December 25 at 8pm on 93.9 FM
George Steel conducts the Vox Vocal Ensemble and the Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble in the rotunda of the Guggenheim in a program that features a premiere by Nico Muhly as well as 16th and 17th century holiday works.
Christmas Old and New
December 25 at 9pm on 93.9 FM
A juxtaposition of pre-Baroque with contemporary classical selections for the season.
WNYC's Picks of ‘08
December 31 at 7PM on 93.9 FM
Staff, listener, and host picks of favorite CDs, all genres, of 2008.
Folksong Festival Holiday Celebration
December 27 at 10pm on AM820Oscar Brand came to WNYC in December 1945 with his very first holiday program and has been broadcasting one annually ever since. Join him as he sings some of his favorites and mixes in some special moments from the past.
A Paul Winter Solstice Concert
December 31 at 9pm on 93.9 FM
In a giant city with many holiday events, the musical,theatrical and environmental spectacle of Paul Winter's Winter Solstice, celebrating the return of the sun after the longest night of the year, attracts thousands of concert goers to New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine and tens of thousands of radio listeners via the NPR broadcast of the show.
More Holiday Picks from WNYC
Vox Vocal Ensemble from the Guggenheim
Evening Music
December 25, 2008
Airs December 25 at 8PM on 93.9
As part of Works & Process at the Guggenheim, George Steel conducts the Vox Vocal Ensemble and the Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble in the renowned museum's rotunda. Hosted by Terrance McKnight, the program features 16th and 17th century holiday works, as well as a premiere by composer Nico Muhly.
Lights of the Season
Evening Music
December 21, 2008
In honor of the winter solstice and the first night of Hanukkah, host David Garland offers musical light on the longest night of the year. Selections include James Blackshaw's "Transient Light in Twilight," Philip Glass's "The Light," Evelyn Glennie's "Light In Darkness," Nico's "Evening of Light," Animal Collective's "Hey Light," John Rutter's "Hymn to the Creator of Light," Lou Harrison's "Solstice," Gyorgy Ligeti's "Lux Aeterna," Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," and Incredible String Band's "Light In Time Of Darkness."
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Music Fan
Soundcheck
December 12, 2008
The holidays are less than two weeks away, and chances are your 401K is down, your job seems less secure, and you are looking for things to cut. Still, there are at least a few gifts that you just HAVE to buy. Soundcheck comes to your rescue with a musical gift-guide to the recession. Here with some ideas are Amanda Petrusich, staff writer at Pitchfork Media and a pop music critic at the New York Times and Joe Levy, editor in chief at Blender magazine.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer wants your music gift ideas: "Don't be a grinch!"
Tell us: What music-themed gift are you giving this year? What's on your wish list?
Gift guide for music fans: Suggestions under $50
A Light Take on Hanukkah
Soundcheck
December 11, 2008
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Erran Baron Cohen created music to accompany scenes of satirical insanity in Da Ali G Show, Borat, and the upcoming Bruno. (Erran’s brother Sacha Baron Cohen created the characters.) With the holiday season in sight, Erran joins us to talk about “remixing” Jewish traditions and songs on his new album, “Songs in the Key of Hanukkah.”
X.mas, Dinnerstein, Vampires
Studio 360
December 05, 2008
This week Studio 360 gives Christmas a serious makeover. Kurt Andersen teams up with Pentagram Design to re-think the branding of Christmas. Simone Dinnerstein makes Bach’s Goldberg Variations her own. We remember the striking modernism of Leonard Rosenman’s film scores. And find out why pop culture's obsession with vampires never seems to die.
New Sounds Live
2009-2010 Concert Season
Guitarist Vernon Reid's multi-media "Artificial Afrika" to the music of avant-pop Dutch composer Jacob TV, songs by Elizabeth and the Catapult, new music to silent films by Yasujiro Ozu, and more.
More
Ear to Ear
Ear to Ear takes innovative musicians off the New York stages and into the studio for relaxed, insightful conversation, as they share their personal recordings with host David Garland.
More
The New Americans
WNYC announces The New Americans, an ongoing station-wide celebration of foreign-born artists now residing in the United States.
More
The Wordless Music Series
WNYC presents four one-hour specials that highlight the ground-breaking '07-'08 season of the Wordless Music Series, hosted by Radio Lab's Jad Abumrad.
More
Concerts from the Frick Collection
For over sixty years, the series Concerts from The Frick Collection has delighted WNYC listeners with the finest in keyboard recitals, chamber groups, and early music ensembles.
More
