PULLMAN, Wash. — Northwest Public Radio at Washington State University will offer a mix of music during the upcoming holiday season.
“The regional NPR affiliate station has come up with enough variety and appeal to please everyone,” said Mike Rathke, NPR program director.
Inland Folk’s Dan Maher will present a two-part Inland Folk Holiday Special from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 16 and 23. During the two shows, Maher will air a variety of seasonal folk music, including the classic holiday tale “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” from a recording read by Dylan Thomas; old English carols; and recordings from Britain by Allan Lomax. The programs also will include “Christmas in the Trenches,” a touching account of a special Christmas during WWI, performed by hammered dulcimer/folk singer John McCutcheon.
Other programs highlighting the season on NPR include the following:
— Paul Winter Consort’s Winter Solstice special, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 17.
— “Christmas in the New World,” 8-9 p.m. Dec. 18, followed by “Sweetest Music: An Early American Christmas,” 9-10 p.m.
— “Carols with the American Boy’s Choir,” 8-9 p.m. Dec. 19, followed by “A Chanticleer Christmas” from 9-10 p.m.
— “Sweet Was the Virgin’s Song,” 8-9 p.m. Dec. 20, followed by “Echoes of Christmas,” 9-10 p.m.
— An evening celebrating Chanukah, beginning with “The Chanukah Story” from 7-8 p.m. Dec. 21, and followed by “Chanukah Lights” from 8-10 p.m.
— The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and guests from the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas, present the “Riverwalk Holiday Special,” 7-8 p.m. Dec. 22, followed by “Jazz Piano Christmas 11,” 8-9 p.m.
— Maher’s Inland Folk Holiday Special, Part Two, will air from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 23, followed by Northwest Public Radio host Robin Rilette’s “Fresh Blend Holiday Special” from 1-4 p.m., and host Ron Gordon’s “True Blues Holiday Special,” produced out of Bellingham and featuring an eclectic mix of traditional and modern holiday blues music, 7-10 p.m.
— “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” is set for 9-10:30 a.m. Dec. 24, and the soothing sounds of “Echoes Sonic Seasonings” will air at 7-9 p.m.
— On Christmas morning, NPR will feature Handel’s “Messiah” beginning at 9 a.m.
— The season specials end Dec. 31 with “Capitol Steps Politics Takes a Holiday” from 5-6 p.m. The “Capitol Steps” comedy group had their start working in Washington, D.C. political circles, so the parody they bring to their comedy routines has its original roots in the real thing. The group has subsequently developed a year-to-year comic review of the previous year in politics.
