Radio » Christmas Programming
To go to the listing for 2009-10, click here.
Christmas Programming (2007)
I would appreciate your comments, criticisms, suggestions, corrections and additions to this survey. You can contact me via the contact page on this website. Its a work in progress, so check back often. I hope you find it useful.
Two errors (since corrected) were noted below.
1. New Year in New Zealand is at 1100 UTC NOT 1300 UTC.
2. Christmas is celebrated in Greece on Dec 25th along with the rest of Western Europe, NOT on January 6 in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Thank you for your corrections!
“Christmas Programming” is perhaps a bit inaccurate. There is other “seasonal” programming information available, including Channukah, New Years’ Eve and New Years’ Day.
There are also some non-radio items toward the top and the bottom of the page, for your entertainment, amusement and amazement.
Also please note: Program Notes are arranged by calendar day. For those in North America, Australian programming is up to 16 hours ahead. European broadcasts can be 5 or more hours ahead. Also note that programming is presented by station not by time order. One should skim over all the listings for a given day and note any programs they want to hear. Finally, remember some stations listed here have audio archives which extend a week to a month after broadcast. Be sure and check out that aspect. And note any programming you may want to try for next year.
BBC Programming can be accessed for 7 days after broadcast. Go to the appropriate BBC station website, or, go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio then click on the BBC Player. Select the appropriate network from the drop down list, then select the appropriate program title and enjoy!
Fred Waterer
Editor, Programming Spotlight, Monitoring Times
Editor, Programming Matters, Listening In
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will” – First words spoken by Reginald Fessenden during his pioneering radio broadcast on December 24, 1906
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From the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Archive:
Much Ado About Christmas: Toys, Traditions and Holiday Fun
Toys, leftover fruitcake, department store Santas, toy store mobs, last minute shoppers, enormous light displays and faith restored — it’s all part of the rich tradition of Christmas. Over the years, CBC Radio and Television have documented the spiritual and material aspects of the ever-evolving Christmas holiday. ‘Tis the joyous, and sometimes maddening, season of giving.
12 Radio Clips, 10 TV clips
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-69-412/life_society/christmas_fun/
Slovak Christmas
On Average Slovaks Spend Some Sk4,800 for Christmas Presents
On average Slovaks plan to spend some Sk4,800 (144 Euro) on Christmas presents, which doesn’t represent any significant growth year-on-year. The data follow from the survey - focused on Christmas behaviour of Slovak customers - carried out by TNS SK on a sample of 1,033 respondents aged over 15 in November.
Read the rest of the article here.
Radio Sweden
Check out the following goodies on the Radio Sweden website (left column):
Christmas (Advent) Calendar
Holiday Treats:
Ginger Bread House
Glögg (Hot Mulled Wine)
Swedish Christmas Dinner
Current Audio from Vatican Radio with many Christmas related stories can be heard here.
Chanukah celebrated by Prague’s Jewish community
[11-12-2007] By Jan Richter
Listen in Real Audio 16kb/s ~ 32kb/s
For most people in Prague and the Czech Republic, last Sunday was the Second Advent Sunday marking the middle of the four-week period before Christmas. In their homes people light the second candle on the advent wreath in anticipation of the coming holiday. But this past Sunday, another lighting ceremony took place in Prague as well.
Menorah on Jan Palach Square, photo: CTK
Sunday was the sixth day of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. A giant candelabra, known as the Menorah, had been erected in Namesti Jana Palacha, or Jan Palach Square, just outside the historic Jewish Quarter of Prague. This was the tenth Menorah lighting ceremony held by the Chabad Centre, one of Prague’s Jewish congregations, and it attracted a crowd of about 300 Jews and gentiles both. Rabbi Manis Barash, the head of the Chabad Centre in Prague, spoke from below the giant candelabra.
Rest of the article can be read here.
In the words of Burl Ives, “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”…or not, find out why, here.
Neverendingwonder Radio
NeverEndingWonder Radio is now in THE HOLIDAY ZONE!
6 AM - 6 PM (Pacific Time): A freeform mix of modern holiday music & comedy.
6 PM - 6 AM (Pacific Time): Traditional & acoustic holiday music.
All scheduled shows will still air
http://www.neverendingwonder.com/
Neverendingwonder Radio is an internet radio station operated by my friend, “Uncle Ozma” in Portland, Oregon
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The sound on this video isn’t the best, but if Mahalia Jackson singing Silent Night isn’t a religious experience in itself, I don’t know what is. Check it out here. And enjoy.
Ask Santa
Got a question for Santa? Ask it here.
PBS PARENTS
Holiday Crafts for the Busy Parent
Too busy shopping, cooking, decorating and working to relax and enjoy the holidays? Craft expert Kathy Cano-Murillo, a.k.a. the Crafty Chica, promises that even those with Busy Parent Syndrome can carve out time to make some projects with kids that will capture holiday magic.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/
BBC - British History - The Ten Ages of Christmas An interesting presentation on the history of Christmas in Britain.
BBC Food - Christmas
Christmas in Australia
An interesting history of Christmas “Downunder”. Its odd, from a Canadian perspective, to think of Christmas around the barbecue, or at the beach. Its an interesting read here.
A traditional carol with a difference…The 12 Days of Christmas, Australian-style
More Australian Christmas from Perth Radio, The Mix
Decorated Street for Christmas in Beijing
Photos taken on the evening of Dec. 4, 2006 shows the scene of a decorated street for Christmas in Beijing. Many stores in the city started to arrange Christmas decorations to greet the forthcoming Christmas Day that falls on December 25. [Photo Source: cnsphoto]
http://english.cri.cn/2866/2006/12/06/168@171231.htm
The Radio Times is the BBC’s radio and television listings magazine, first published on 28 September 1923, around ten months after the BBC began broadcasting. From March 1991 it began carrying listings for commercial channels. Here is a page showing Christmas covers through the years. (I found the wartime ones interesting…Santa was “on our side 
”
http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/radiotimes/christmas.htm
Speaking of wartime, here’s a neat item from the CBC Archives online:
King George VI’s Christmas message of 1939
Christmas is a time of light and celebration. But darkness is all around on Dec. 25, 1939, as citizens of the British Empire face another world war. Amid the gloom, King George VI resurrects a tradition his father launched: an annual Christmas message to all inhabitants of the Empire. In this excerpt from his speech, broadcast in Canada by the CBC, the King says the Empire shall remain undaunted in the face of war.
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-69-1966-12704-10/life_society/twt/
CBC TV Holiday Schedule can be seen here.
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BBC 4
Your guide to Religion on Radio 4 is here.
Here’s a fascinating page. The BBC Multifaith Calendar. You can access it here.
BBC 7 Christmas Season
Just a short walk from Broadcasting House, the Christmas lights in Oxford Street have been brightening up the recent dark and dismal afternoons. The colours this year are quite magical, in lovely silvers, pinks and purples, with illuminated castles and forests, on the theme of “An Enchanted Christmas”.
Here at BBC 7 we’ve been planning what we hope will be an enchanting world of radio for you throughout the festive season. In comedy you can look forward to a feast of Christmas specials, and without giving too much away, here is a little taster of some of the comedy on offer:
Plan Christmas Schedules the Burkiss Way; Hancock’s Christmas Club; Morecambe and Wise, and Christmas Eve with the Shuttleworths.
Our seasonal stories and drama include:
Adrian Mole, Just William’s Christmas Truce; Happy Christmas Jennings; Hercule Poirot’s Christmas; The Pickwick Papers and Christmas Ghost stories.
I’m also pleased to let you know that we have cleared the rights to broadcast a memorable drama, commissioned specially for radio in the form of 12 plays based on the life of Jesus, The Man Born to be King by Dorothy L Sayers. It is fifty years since Dorothy L Sayers died suddenly of heart failure (17th December, 1957) and the repeat of her plays seem a fitting tribute to a great writer. Now, I do know that dramatisations of her Lord Peter Wimsey novels are always popular on BBC 7 and most of you will have heard them, but The Man Born to Be King, is being broadcast on BBC 7 for the first time. Unfortunately, the original 1942 version, produced by the legendary Val Gielgud, has not been retained in the archive, but we do have a wonderful dramatisation produced in 1976, and I am delighted to include this in our Christmas package.
BBC 7 Newsletter, November 30, 2007
You can access BBC 7 online here.
Radio Prague
In many ways, Radio Prague can be called your “Christmas Station” of the international bands. Of all the stations on the world band, our friends in the Czech Republic bring you stories of Christmas in Prague, contests and spirited renditions of carols sung by the staff. I could probably do without the traditional Czech Christmas dinner of fried carp and potatoes, but that’s just my bias. Radio Prague seems to embrace the season like no other station. If anyone could entice me to eat carp, it’s the people at Radio Prague
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/86580
Radio Prague Christmas Greeting
Through Radio Prague you can send your friends and relatives a Christmas greeting via the internet.
Choose a picture to accompany your greeting.
http://www.radio.cz/en/html/christmas_greeting.html
Treasure Island Oldies
Perhaps my favourite internet based radio program. From the website:
This week on Treasure Island Oldies…
December 2nd 2007 to December 8th 2007Well here we are, it’s December already! This year Chanukah begins at sundown on December 4th and I’d like to wish a very Happy Chanukah to our Jewish friends and listeners. Enjoy your celebration of the Festival of Lights with your family and friends. We’re also getting ready for the Christmas Holiday Season here on the Island, and this week we began playing Christmas songs, some of my favourite music. If there’s a special song you’d like to hear on the show, just click the Requests button on any page of the website and send off an email to me with the song you’d like to hear. I’d also enjoy receiving your phone calls on our 24/7 Treasure Island Oldies Request Line. Call 206-203-4678 and leave your voicemail request and dedication. I also hope you enjoy our fun Holiday Decorations that are up on various pages of the website, as well as our Christmas Greeting on the Listen page. And be sure to mark your calendar for our Annual Christmas Special live Sunday, December 23rd.
http://www.treasureislandoldies.com/pages/start.html
KHJ Radio Performers (Los Angeles) Singing Christmas Songs from 1929
Much of the programming at this time of year is obviously lighthearted, such as Radio Netherlands’ EuroQuest “investigation” in 2006 of just where Santa lives, Sweden, Norway or Finland; or Living in Germany’s (Deutsche Welle) tour of traditional German Christmas markets. Other programs are more serious, such as Cool’s (Deutsche Welle) look at the plight of homeless kids at Christmas.
Most radio stations in North America will air seasonal music, and some will even broadcast radio programs from days gone by. It’s an opportunity to hear music only heard at this time of the year. Then again, some stations get a jump on the holiday and play Christmas music ad nauseum, as early as October (way too early). Still, I love this time of year, and the musical choices available.
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Sunday, December 2, 2007
Sunday 2 December
Radio 4 Christmas Appeal, Sunday 7.55-8.00am, repeated Sun 9.25-9.30pm, Thurs 3.28pm
Rev Nicholas Holtam appeals for help for homeless people in the capital and individuals in need across the United Kingdom. Donations: St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ. Credit cards: Freephone 0800 082 82 84.
Received with Thanks, 9.45-10.00am
Libby Purves hears about the more than three quarters of a million pounds raised by listeners for the Radio 4 Christmas Appeal for St Martin-in-the-Fields. The Connection at St Martin’s gives homeless people food, shelter and practical guidance. The Appeal also enables thousands of individual grants to be made to people in urgent need across the United Kingdom.
Access Radio 4 here.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
CBC RADIO TWOMUSIC AND COMPANY:
All this week it’s a Christmas re-gifting cage match, as The Little Drummer Boy goes head-to-head against I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. The listeners decide which one ends up locked in the cage - and removed from the playlist - forever? But you’ll have to wait until Friday to find out the results. That’s on Music and Company, with host Tom Allen, this morning at 6 (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
HERE’S TO YOU:
The start of Hanukkah means it’s time to bring out the listener requests for “The Golden Dreydl: A Christmas Nutracker” with narration by Ellen Kushner and music provided by the Shirim Klezmer Orchestra. Plus, a listener asks Catherine to play something featuring musical comedian Victor Borge, so that her nervous husband can have a good laugh
before defending his Master’s thesis today. And, Catherine hears from a listener who needed to know if her boyfriend liked classical music before she married him years ago. Eventually she found out that he was insincere when he claimed that he did, but they’re still together. “All’s Fair In Love and War.” Here’s to You, with host Catherine
Belyea, this morning at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Applause program # 689 (AM 740, Toronto)
Cover versions of film music with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra conducted by Erich Kunzel: Main Themes from the movie “Willow” (composer James Horner); Finale from the movie “Victor, Victoria” (composer Henry Mancini) - Telarc
Selections from “Allegro” with members of the original cast (1947) with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, II - this was their 3rd collaboration: “Allegro”; “So Far”; “One Foot, Other Foot” - RCA Victor
Selections from Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” - the musical currently playing at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts + an interview with CEO Dan Brambilla and your chance to win one of three pair of tickets to see “White Christmas”: “Happy Holiday/Let Yourself Go”; “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep”; “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” - Ghostlight
Selections from the original concept album to “Blackbeard” a new musical about the pirate and his blockading of Charleston harbour in May of 1718: “Blackbeard”; “Then All Is Fine”; “The Look Makes the Man” -
Enjoy!
Michael
Michael Englebert
APPLAUSE/ Englebert Productions
www.radioapplause.com
THE DEBATERS: ***also heard Monday at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC Radio
One***This week on The Debaters, the ever-jolly Shaun Majumder presides as Dan Redican and Simon Rakoff argue whether we should put the Christ back into Christmas. Next up, Carrie Gaetz and Steve Patterson face off on the issue of fur and whether we need to skin little animals to keep our chestnuts toasty. ‘Tis the season to be argumentative, on The Debaters, Saturday evening at 6:30 (7:30 AT, 8 NT) on CBC Radio One.
THE VINYL CAFE: ***also heard Sundays at noon (12:30 NT) and Thursdays at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***
Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend. Host Stuart McLean has a Christmas Concert, featuring a Dave & Morley story. Imagine what could happen if Dave ended up driving a float in the Santa Claus Parade. With music from Owen Pallett (a.k.a. Final Fantasy), young New Brunswick slide wizard Joe Grass, and award-winning blues vocalist Suzie Vinnick.
That’s this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Saturday morning at 10:00 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
This Way Out Radio
Saturday, December 8 2007 to Monday, December 10 2007: “This Way Out”
This week in “This Way Out”: two debuts and a hip-hop duo are the latest additions to the “audiofile”/ celebrating South Africa’s paper anniversary in a “rainbow minute”/ music from Kim-Char Meredith and Jay Spears to make the yuletide gay. In the news, Australians unseat homophobic John Howard, anti-queer tensions rise at Kampala’s commonwealth confab, Uruguay proposes civil unions, and a “chatty” Larry Craig doll isn’t gay either.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
VINYL CAFE: ***Also heard Tuesday at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio
One***Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend. Host Stuart McLean has a Christmas Concert, featuring a Dave & Morley story. Imagine what could happen if Dave ended up driving a float in the Santa Claus Parade. With music from Owen Pallett (a.k.a. Final Fantasy), young New Brunswick slide wizard Joe Grass, and award-winning blues vocalist Suzie Vinnick.
That’s this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Sunday after the noon news (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
CHORAL CONCERT:
From the Chapel of St John’s College, Cambridge, Choral Concert brings you the Advent Carol Service. It’s a service of traditional Advent hymns, antiphons and carols under the direction of David Hill, Director of Music. That’s Choral Concert, with host Howard Dyck, Sunday at 8 (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
WNED - Buffalo, NY
6:30 PM - Three Tenors Christmas
In a concert taped in December 1999 at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti sing holiday favorites such as “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride,” “O Holy Night,” “Adeste Fideles.”
16:00
Open Book
9 December 2007
Mariella Frostrup presents the books programme, including a Christmas selection of some of the year’s best fiction. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Debaters
This week on The Debaters, the ever-jolly Shaun Majumder presides as Dan Redican and Simon Rakoff argue whether we should put the Christ back into Christmas. Next up, Carrie Gaetz and Steve Patterson face off on the issue of fur and whether we need to skin little animals to keep our chestnuts toasty. ‘Tis the season to be argumentative, on The Debaters, tonight at 8:30 (9 NT) on CBC Radio One.
MUSIC AND COMPANY:
This week in the cage, it’s the battle of the Christmas moneymaker blockbusters, as The Nutcracker goes head-to-head with Handel’s Messiah. That’s on Music and Company, with host Tom Allen, this morning at 6 (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
2 Shows from PBS-TV:
LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER
Jazz @ Lincoln Center: Red Hot Holiday Stomp
Monday, December 10, 2007 8 - 10:00 pm
Jazz @ Lincoln Center’s artistic director, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, hosts this evening of joyous music and storytelling from Frederick P. Rose Hall. Joining him onstage for this
“Wynton Wonderland” are Wycliffe “Pinecone” Gordon, Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Victor Goines, Joe Temperley, “Papa” Don Vappie, Reginald Veal, Dan Nimmer, Herlin Riley and Roberta Gumbel, who bring Big Easy-style holiday cheer to the Big Apple.(CC, Stereo, 1 year)
http://www.pbs.org/livefromlincolncenter/
L.A. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007 10 - 11:00 pm
This is a highlight version of the six-hour Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration that took place in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center on Christmas Eve 2006. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has sponsored an admission-free holiday-themed show as a gift to the people of the county every December 24 since 1960. (CC, Stereo, HD)
Deutsche Welle
EUROVOX
Eco Friendly Couture Under the Christmas Tree?
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,2142,4703,00.html
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Bravo (Canada)7:30 PM - The Rankin Sisters - Home for Christmas (E) 2005
Raylene, Cookie and Heather Rankin return to their Nova Scotia hometown of Mabou to perform traditional and Celtic holiday carols with the Ceilidhians and the Cheticamp Children’s Choir. Narrated by author Alistair MacLeod.
8:30 PM - Glorious Christmas (E) 2003
Some of pop music’s biggest stars perform traditional holiday songs and spiritual hymns at the Vatican’s beautiful Aula Paolo VI theatre. Features Bryan Adams, Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, Sarah Brightman and Manhattan Transfer.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
History Television (Canada)
In Search Of Santa Claus
The amazing transformation of a holy man from Turkey into the world-wide symbol of Christmas cheer.
He’s one of the most widely recognized figures in the world; but what are the origins of St. Nicholas, and how did he become Santa Claus? With criminological acumen, this one-hour documentary sorts the myths from the facts to present the true story of the first multi-national saint, revered by the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches alike.
Combining re-enactments of miracles, unique graphic effects and different styles of filming, Seeking Santa will also show us what Saint Nick actually looked like: thanks to the bones preserved in Bari and Myra, a 3-D image of his skull has been “dressed” in flesh to reproduce his physical likeness. This is the latest project of director Martin Papirowski who has over twenty years experience in producing international co-productions.
December 12 at 2:00 PM; Thursday, December 13 at 3:00 AM
http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=101940&nwsltrhistory20071211ref=D11
Friday, December 14, 2007
December 14
HERE’S TO YOU:
A listener living in Ankara, Turkey, dedicates traditional Swedish carols to her family as she prepares to come home to Canada for the first time in four years. Then, Theodore in Winnipeg who belongs to an amateur chamber music group is particularly fond of the music of Erno Dohnanyi and asks for one of his string quartets. Plus, Catherine is asked to help a Secret Santa with her gift giving. This Santa will be giving a CD of Arvo Part’s “Spiegel im Spiegel” to one of her house-mates and thinks the gift will be extra special if it’s revealed first on “Here’s to You.” There’s lots of birthdays and lots of Christmas music as well on Here’s to You, with Catherine Belyea, this morning at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
“In the meantime, I can exclusively reveal details of a special programme all about BBC 7 which you can hear next Saturday ( December 15th ) at 9am. To get you in the birthday mood, 7 Wonders will be revealing some of the behind-the-scenes stories of our first five years on-air.”My fellow producer Kerry McCarthy and I will be gate-crashing our very own studios and taking over the microphones for half an hour! Our mission is to bring you a tangy flavour of how BBC 7 operates. So if you’ve ever wondered how all the mega piles of tapes in the BBC archive are prepared for broadcast on our futuristic digital radio station - then 7 Wonders is the show for you! So I do hope you’ll be able to join us next Saturday with a morning cuppa, as we tell all !” (BBC 7 Newsletter, Dec 7, 2007)
The Big Broadcast
Sun., 7 p.m. on WAMU 88.5
Each week, Big Broadcast host Ed Walker offers listeners priceless recordings of popular radio programs from the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s.
Have a question about The Big Broadcast? Contact us.
The Big Broadcast is a Sunday night tradition for families throughout the WAMU listening area. Each week, Big Broadcast host Ed Walker offers listeners priceless recordings of popular radio programs from the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. Priceless, especially, for a man whose first sentence as a child was, “Turn the radio on.” More about The Big Broadcast and Ed Walker.
On Saturday afternoon December 15, from 1 to 5 p.m., the Radio and Television Museum of Bowie Maryland is hosting Santa’s Big Broadcast featuring vintage Christmas radio and television programming for children and adults from the 40’s through the 60’s. In addition, visitors can tour the museum’s vast collection of radios, televisions and broadcast memorabilia, including many interactive displays. The museum is located at 2608 Mitchellville Road, Bowie Maryland. Phone 301-390-1020 for details.
THE VINYL CAFE: ***also heard Sundays at noon (12:30 NT) and
Thursdays at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***
Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend for a Christmas Concert. Join Stuart McLean, Western swing orchestra The Bebop Cowboys and blues sensation Roxanne Potvin. And this year, Dave doesn’t just COOK the turkey…he RAISES a turkey! Wonder if he feeds it tofu…That’s this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Saturday morning at 10:00 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
SOUND ADVICE:
Today on Sound Advice it’s the Christmas Holiday Special. Rick Phillips will have all kinds of great recordings, old and new, with music ranging over five hundred years. Christmas tunes, arrangements, medieval carols, and more - so pour yourself a glass of eggnog and tune in to Sound Advice, Saturday after the noon news (1 AT, 1:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
VINYL CAFE: ***Also heard Tuesday at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend for a Christmas Concert. Join Stuart McLean, Western swing orchestra The Bebop Cowboys and blues sensation Roxanne Potvin. And this year, Dave doesn’t just COOK the turkey…he RAISES a turkey! Wonder if he feeds it tofu…That’s this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Sunday after the noon news (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
TAPESTRY:
This week on Tapestry … Mary talks with Laurence Freeman, the director of The World Community of Christian Meditation. He began his spiritual life assisting John Main, a Benedictine monk who rediscovered the practics of Christian meditation. On the twenty fifth anniversay of John Main’s death his friend and colleauge Laurence Freeman pays a visit to Tapestry, Sunday afternoon right after the 2 p.m. news (2:30 NT, 4 MT, 3 PT) on CBC Radio One.
JOY TO THE WORLD - EURADIO CHRISTMAS MUSIC DAY: ***pre-empts Choral
Concert, In The Key of Charles, Inside the Music, Sunday Afternoon In Concert, and Skylarking on CBC Radio Two.
Tune in to CBC Radio Two this Sunday for this year’s daylong musical feast, Joy to the World: the Euroradio Christmas Music Day. Starting at 6 a.m. (6:30 NT), you’ll hear 12 hours of glorious Christmas music LIVE from Athens, Lisbon, Lugoj, Helsinki, Tallinn, Ghent, Riga, Toronto and more. Join host Howard Dyck for Joy to the World, Sunday starting at 6 a.m. (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Here’s the rundown:
6:05 a.m.- From Athens, Greece
7 am - From Lisbon, Portugal
8 am - From Lugoj, Romania
9:05 am - From Helsinki, the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra
10 a.m. - From Tallinn, Estonia
11 am - From Ghent, Belgium
noon - From Riga, Latvia
1 p.m. - From Toronto
2:05 p.m. - From Sofia, Bulgaria
3 p.m. - From Stockholm, Sweden
4 p.m. - From Reykjvaik, Iceland
5 p.m. - from Copenhagen, Denmark
Should also be available on BBC Radio 3
Deutsche Welle
Concert in the Arithmeum: Ave Maria
A vocal ensemble of enormous breadth, not merely in terms of vocal range but also in their choice of music, which covers a wide variety of styles and epochs.
This pre-Christmas edition of Concert Hour features a live concert recording of Christmas music performed by an ensemble of young Russian singers that call themselves “Ave Maria.” DW Concert Hour
Monday December 17-21 2007
In a monumental fit of seasonality, our fabulous friends on the Today programme have put together an audio Advent Calendar for everyone’s entertainment and delight. Have a look: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/adventcalendar/
Witness: Five Plays from the Gospel of Luke, all week, 2.15-3.00pm
By Nick Warburton. The Gospel of Luke is brought to life across five plays. The story is told through the eyes of Peter, Judas Iscariot, Andrew, Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, Caiaphas, Pilate, and many other ordinary men, women and children through whose lives Jesus passes - from his birth in Bethlehem, through his ministry, to death on the Cross and Resurrection.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/afternoon_play.shtml
Witness: behind Luke’s Story, all week, 3.00-3.15pm
Ernie Rea explores the mind and preoccupations St Luke and examines his vital role in shaping the Christian story.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/behindlukesstory/pip/537t9/
Monday, December 17, 2007
December 17
HERE’S TO YOU:
Amalie from Whitehorse writes that she will be in Vancouver visiting her grandparents for the holidays. As both her parents have played in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for more than 20 years she’s requesting the orchestra’s recording of music by Rachmaninov, with Sergiu Comissiona conducting. And then, listeners in Calgary attended a performance of The Messiah recently and were very impressed by the singing of countertenor Matthew White. They’ve asked to hear one of his recordings. Plus there are a couple of requests for Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and there’s lots of other Christmas music sprinkled throughout the show. Here’s to You, with host Catherine Belyea, this morning at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Hancock’s Half Hour: The Christmas Club
When someone knocks on Tony’s door, will he answer? Tony Hancock and Sid James are joined by Wilfred Babbage, Hugh Morton and Frank Partington in this festive episode from 1959. Tuesday at 8am, 12midday and 7pm BBC Radio 7
VINYL CAFE:
Head for the Vinyl Cafe tonight for a Vinyl Cafe Christmas Concert. Join Stuart McLean, Western swing orchestra The Bebop Cowboys and blues sensation Roxanne Potvin. And this year, Dave doesn’t just COOK the turkey…he RAISES a turkey! Wonder if he feeds it tofu…The Vinyl Cafe, tonight at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
DISC DRIVE:
Featured on Disc Drive the continuation of countdown to the holidays with a “Cool Yule” from Jack Semple, Stan Kenton’s Christmas arrangements are performed by the Boston Brass,…plus we’ll also hear from Loreena McKennitt, pianist Mary Bundy…and cowboy Gene Autry who wishes that his mom would marry Santa Claus. That’s on DiscDrive, with
host Jurgen Gothe, weekdays at 3 (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
CANADA LIVE:
George Canyon invited Tyler Connolly, Jully Black, Dave Gunn, Andrea Menard, and Johnny Reid join him in a special Christmas concert in the remarkable setting of the Banff Springs Hotel. Then in Concert 2, it’s Bruce Cockburn recorded live in concert last summer also at
the Banff Springs Hotel. Canada Live, tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
THE SIGNAL:
Tonight on The Signal it’s part two of a seasonal piano concert from Barbara Pritchard in Halifax. You’ll hear George Crumb’s ‘A Little Suite for Christmas’ and Ian Crutchley’s ‘Nativitas’. There’s also new music on CD from pianist Andy Milne, who’s latest solo piano album combines jazz improvisation and contemporary piano techniques in cover versions of famous Canadian songs. Hear how Andy approaches the music of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. The Signal, with Laurie Brown, tonight at 10 p.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
18.12.2007, 14:00 UTC
GERMANY LIGHT
A weekly look at Germany’s cultural, peculiar and sometimes odd happenings delivered right to your inbox.
Tannenbaum and Stollen: Christmas Customs in Germany
Christmas trees, creches, Advent calendars and St. Nicholas are all familiar sights during the holiday season in Germany. But where do all these customs come from, and what do they actually signify?
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evx64qIf6ketyI1
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
2 Programs from PBS Television:
CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING SISSEL
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9 - 10:00 pm
European singing sensation Sissel joins the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square for an annual holiday concert. (CC, Stereo, HD)
CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF: WHERE PEACE AND LOVE AND HOPE ABIDE
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10 - 11:00 pm
This Christmas special features the renowned choirs and orchestra of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. The program this year blends excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah,”
Mendelssohn’s “St. Paul” and Honegger’s “King David” with new, specially commissioned works for chorus and orchestra. (CC, Stereo, HD)
Lines From My Grandfather Christmas’s Forehead
Ronnie Barker, Terence Brady and Pauline Yates provide plenty of seasonal laughs in this sketch show originally broadcast in 1971.
Wednesday at 12.30pm and 7.30pm BBC Radio 7
Deutsche Welle - MONEY TALKS
Segment Three
Toys “Made in Germany” Boom for Christmas
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,1595,4703,00.html#
SPARK: ***Also heard Saturday at 4 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio
One***
Today on Spark it’s a special Christmas episode that look at alternative technologies for the holidays. Darsha Hewitt teaches Nora the art of circuit bending which means making weird and wonderful sounds with old toy electronics. Tom Lucier gives Nora a tour of the wacky world of USB gadgets - USB-powered, heated slippers that you plug into
your computer, anyone? Plus, in a break from all the junk and excess of holiday giving, Tom Howell, Spark’s “techiquette” expert, explores the issue of power use and our addiction to constant electronic upgrades. Spark, with Nora Young, this morning at 11:30 (noon NT) on CBC Radio One.
AFGHANADA: ***also heard Friday at 11:30 (noon NT) on CBC Radio One
Tune in tonight for more of Afghanada, the highly acclaimed drama series that follows a small group of Canadian soldiers on their dangerous mission in Afghanistan. It’s Christmas Day in Kandahar and Chucky is writing a letter home to his Gram in Cape Breton. Chucky has just returned to the section having been recuperating from an injury for the last few weeks to find his section only barely holding it together. With only a few weeks left in theatre Pat just wants to get her boys home alive. Emotions rise to a boiling point when Dean disobeys a direct order to save a boy from abuse. Afghanada, tonight at 11 (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
HERE’S TO YOU:
On Here’s To You…hear the male-voice choir Chanticleer singing Biebl’s “Ave Maria” plus a couple of songs from James Taylor’s Christmas recording. Arturo in Amherstburg says his sister in Cape Town, South Africa, will be visiting Canada for the holidays with her husband and two children. He asks for an aria from Massenet’s “Manon” for his sister, to acknowledge her music career…and Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” for his sister’s daughter who has firmly established herself as queen of the house. Plus…the big Christmas favourite on “Here’s to You” returns for another airing. Back by clamorous,
voluminous demand is Frank Kelly’s Christmas Countdown. That’s on Here’s to You, with host Catherine Belyea, this morning at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
The Religion Report
Presented by Stephen Crittenden
Wednesdays, 8.30am (430pm the day before EST, 2130 the day before GMT); repeated 8.05pm (405 am EST, 0905 GMT)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/default.htm (MP3 download available)
19 December: Charles Birch
At 89, the venerable Australian biologist, ecologist and theologian Charles Birch has written a new book, Science and Soul, a memoir in which he looks back with gratitude to the long list of world-famous scientists and philosophers of religion who have influenced his work - Theodosius Dobzhansky, J.B.S.Haldane, Paul Erlich, Paul Tillich, Reinhold Niebuhr, Margaret Mead, and many more. Charles Birch talks about his life and his belief in a God that feels and grows as we do.
26 December: Assyrian Christians, John Dear
We speak to American actor, author and documentary maker Rosie Malek-Yonan about the terrible plight of Assyrian Christians in Iraq. Also America’s most dangerous Jesuit, peace activist John Dear, who spends about as much time in jail as he does breaking into nuclear facilities.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A tourist’s view of Prague’s Christmas markets
[20-12-2007] By Rosie Johnston
Listen Real Audio 16kb/s ~ 32kb/s
Every year, thousands of tourists come to Prague in order to visit the city’s Christmas markets. The numerous markets offer visitors a chance to shop for traditional Czech crafts, while sipping on a cup or two of mulled wine or mead. But do they live up to their promise? Earlier today, I interrupted a couple of British tourists on Old Town Square to ask them precisely that. Here they are introducing themselves More here.
The Burkiss Way: Plan Christmas Schedules the Burkis Way
More festive fun from 1976, with Nigel Rees, Jo Kendall, Chris Emmett and Fred Harris. The series is written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick.
Thursday at 12midday and 7pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/classic.shtml
A Ghost For Christmas
We have had several requests for ghost stories at Christmas. So here are two which are appropriate for the Yuletide season.
The Woodman’s Enigma
Jill and Colin find themselves in the middle of a ghostly mystery. Written by Garry Kilworth, abridged by Penny Leicester and read by Edward de Souza.
Thursday at 1.45pm
Across The Fields
On Xmas Eve, Emily and her brother set off home across the fields carrying their Christmas goose. Written by Susan Price, abridged by Penny Leicester and read by Anna Keaveney.
Friday at 1.45 pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/bestsellers.shtml
Deutsche Welle Radio
COOL
Segment 3: A Users Guide to Germany’s Christmas Markets
LIVING PLANET
Segment 4: Ideas for a Green Christmas - from Living Planet and WWF
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,1595,4703,00.html#
THE CURRENT:It is the holiday season, a time to show good will towards humankind. The Current has been collecting Good Samaritan stories from our listeners and they share some of them today. Also, a look into what makes us act selflessly to help others … from our own psychology and neurological make-up to what the person we’re helping looks like. And,
what better way to pass the winter holidays than by curling up with a nice book … maybe one that illustrates the horrifying ecological damages we’re doing to the earth. The Current, gathers three prominent environmental writers and photographers to talk about the new trend in environmental coffee table books and why they think images of ecological
disaster might be the best way to advocate for change. That’s on The Current, with Anna Maria Tremonti, this morning at 8:30 (9:00 NT) on CBC Radio One.
SOUNDS LIKE CANDA
He lived a long lifetime filled with memorable music, but no song defined Irving Berlin like White Christmas. Anyone who’s ever hummed the words “may all your Christmases be white” can only imagine what it must have felt like to pen them. This year - CBC Saskatchewan is giving the people of that province a chance to try - by submitting their own entries in the ultimate holiday song challenge. Does another ‘Jingle Bells’ await? Shelagh Rogers speaks with the producer of the contest and some would-be Christmas classic writers. That’s Sounds Like Canada, this morning at 10 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
REWIND:
Coming up on Rewind, all about Christmas. From sleds and dolls to artificial Christmas trees and the Santa Claus parade- we look at how Christmas has changed- and how it’s stayed the same. That’s Christmas memories from CBC Radio on Rewind. Rewind, tonight at midnight (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
HERE’S TO YOU:
Catherine has requests for some baroque “Noels” and carols from many lands. We’ll hear a grand Adagio by Mahler - an attempt by two children to sum up the lives of their parents over 50 years of marriage. Plus the Alto rhapsody by Brahms for a listener who’s anticipating the “deep freeze” of Grande Prairie Alberta over the holidays. In the final
portion of the programme we’ll play a complete performance of Menotti’s “Amal and the Night Visitors” in a recording conducted by the composer. An, it’s the last Organ Thursday of the year. Jurgen Petrenko drops by with some music by Bach. Here’s to You, with host Catherine Belyea, this morning at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
STUDIO SPARKS:
Studio Sparks goes uptown as Ottawa-based jazz pianist Brian Browne comes by for some conversation and Christmas jazz in front of a live studio audience. That’s on Studio Sparks, with Eric Friesen, today at noon (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
DISCDRIVE:
On Disc Drive…more Christmas delights as we get closer to the Holiday Season…with musical offerings from the Aradia Ensemble, Chris Norman, Slim Gaillard, Michel Donato , and Dylan Thomas featured in his historical reading of A Child’s Christmas in Wales. That’s on DiscDrive, with host Jurgen Gothe, weekdays at 3 (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
CANADA LIVE:
World-renowned jazz sensation Molly Johnson and her sextet present an evening of seasonal jazz favourites in new arrangements by Mike Downes and others. Also included are original songs composed by Molly herself. Joining Molly is the distinguished Canadian Wagnerian superstar, tenor Ben Heppner, who will be heard in Christmas classics, gospel numbers, and of course a duet of the concert’s theme song, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. That’s on Canada Live, tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
THE SIGNAL:
Tonight, selections from Sufjan Stevens’s ‘Songs For Christmas’ - a five CD set from this very prolific young songwriter, which includes several weird and wonderful arrangements of traditional carols. Also tonight, part two of the Soundstreams Canada Byzantine Festival concert, featuring Michael Oesterle’s ‘Big City, Small City’ and John Tavener’s ‘The World’. The Signal, with Laurie Brown, tonight at 10 p.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Friday, December 21, 2007
AM 740 Toronto
AM740’s music director Brian Peroff features an all Christmas show, on ‘Prime Time Bandstand’ - 7pm-mid. http://www.am740.ca
Comedy Zone
After Henry: The Season of Relative Goodwill
In this Christmas special from 1987, will Eleanor’s strict Christmas Day timetable be kept to? Starring Prunella Scales and Joan Sanderson (Pictured).
Friday at 5.30pm and 6am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/comedyzone.shtml
Mole Cooks His Goose
Adrian Mole takes charge of the family’s Christmas lunch in Sue Townsend’s short story. The reader is Nicholas Barnes and the director John Tydeman, who introduced Adrian Mole to the radio airwaves!
Friday at 1pm BBC Radio 7
ABC (Australia) Radio National
Silent Night/Stille Nacht
Friday 21 December 2007
A celebration of a simple carol, first sung at the Christmas Eve Mass in the Austrian town of Oberndorf in 1818. Our arrangements of Silent Night include a Japanese language version with the Nagasaki Boys and Girls Choir, a swinging jazz session from organist Jimmy Smith and a slightly dyspeptic version for violin and piano from the composer Alfred Schnittke. And the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra holds true to the spirit of the original with two sopranos and a guitar.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rhythmdivine/default.htm
Available on demand after the broadcast.
AFGHANADA: rept of Weds pgmTune in tonight for more of Afghanada, the highly acclaimed drama series that follows a small group of Canadian soldiers on their dangerous mission in Afghanistan. It’s Christmas Day in Kandahar and Chucky is writing a letter home to his Gram in Cape Breton. Chucky has just returned to the section having been recuperating from an injury for the last few weeks to find his section only barely holding it together. With only a few weeks left in theatre Pat just wants to get her boys home alive. Emotions rise to a boiling point when Dean disobeys a direct order to save a boy from abuse. Afghanada, this morning at 11:30 (noon NT) on CBC Radio One.
Q: ***You can also hear highlights from this afternoon’s edition of Q tonight after the 10 p.m. news on CBC Radio One***
In Q today …there’s been quite a fuss over in England about BBC Radio One censoring a well-known Christmas chessnut.. the Pogues/Kirsty McColl classic “Fairytale Of New York”. Or “Fairytale” if you a pogues fan. The way Zepplin fans call it “Stairway”. Q speaks with the music writer for Guardian Unlimited in the UK who broke the story.. Paul McGuinness.
Plus, who owns that photo? A look at the art of appropration. That’s on Q, with Jian Ghomeshi, this afternoon after your local noon show on CBC Radio One.
HERE’S TO YOU:
On Here’s To You….numerous requests for excerpts from Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” One listener, a former timpanist for the Halifax Concert Band, asks for the opening portion to be dedicated to members of the band, and their leader Ron MacKay. Plus, lots of requests for Christmas carols as well, most of them dedicated to friends and family
who have birthdays around Christmas Day. Finally, it’s a return of another seasonal favourite: Brother Heinrich’s Christmas narrated by Lois Marshall and featuring the Toronto Children’s Chorus. That’s on Here’s to You, with Catherine Belyea, this morning at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
STUDIO SPARKS:
Nutcracker time on Studio Sparks; Tchaikovsky’s seasonal favorite in a live concert performance by Valery Gergiev and the Kirov Theatre Orchestra. That’s on Studio Sparks, with Eric Friesen, today at noon (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
DISC DRIVE:
On DiscDrive… today Manhattan Transfer sing a David Foster song and kick back to Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols and new-to-DiscDrive group called Savvy Fools from their CD “December Songs”. That’s on DiscDrive, with host Jurgen Gothe, weekdays at 3 (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
TONIC:
This evening on Tonic, Katie Malloch marks the 70th anniversary of the premiere of the Walt Disney film “Snow White and Seven Dwarfs,” with tunes from pianist Mark Eisenman and from the trio of Brazilian vocalist Moreno Veloso. There’ll also be music from the Hot Club of Norway with a nod to Frank Zappa. Canadian vocalist Rita di Ghent channels Dr. Seuss. Plus, some seasonal music by Tchaikovsky done up in a jazz style by the
Classical Jazz Quartet. Take a little Tonic, with Katie Malloch, this evening at 6:00 p.m. (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
CANADA LIVE:
‘A Canadian Country Christmas’ is an acoustic driven show with lots of original seasonal music by a mix of solid Canadian singer songwriters. Players include Sean Hogan, Julian Austin, Duane Steele, Samantha King and Greg Hanna. While most are rooted in the country music tradition, their sounds cross over genres from folk, blues, roots to easy listening holiday music. Canada Live, tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
AM 740
Art Drysdale tells us about various legends associated with Christmas trees, and re-caps his list of excellent gardening books as last-minute Christmas presents, on ‘The Garden and Home Show’ from 8-9am.
Radio Applause program # 691
Christmas edition of APPLAUSE - a Canadian classic: Rich Little’s “Christmas Carol” -features Rich recreating this Christmas story with an all-star cast - WC Fields, George Burns, John Wayne, Richard Nixon, Paul Lynde, Laurel & Hardy, Johnny Carson, Jack Benny, Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Columbo, plus many others.
I wish you and your family and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Michael
Michael Englebert
APPLAUSE/ Englebert Productions
www.radioapplause.com
The program can be heard on AM 740
SPARK:
Today on Spark it’s a special Christmas episode that look at alternative technologies for the holidays. Darsha Hewitt teaches Nora the art of circuit bending which means making weird and wonderful sounds with old toy electronics. Tom Lucier gives Nora a tour of the wacky world of USB gadgets - USB-powered, heated slippers that you plug into your computer, anyone? Plus, in a break from all the junk and excess of holiday giving, Tom Howell, Spark’s “techiquette” expert, explores the issue of power use and our addiction to constant electronic upgrades. Spark, with host Nora Young, Saturday afternoon at 4 (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
RANDY BACHMAN’S VINYL TAP: ***also heard Fridays at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Randy Bachman will be rockin’ around the Christmas tree this week on Vinyl Tap. You won’t hark the herald angels sing and you might not see three ships come sailing in but we guarantee it will not be a silent night! Randy goes deep into the drifts of vinyl to bring you some seasonal favorites and some tunes you might not have heard before. Holly Cole, Kim Stockwood, Bruce Cockburn,
John McDermott, Adam Sandler and of course the Jingle Cats are just some of the artists joining Randy in the one horse sleigh on Vinyl Tap this week. Best of the festive season to all! Randy Bachman’s Vinyl Tap, Saturday evening at 7 p.m. (8 AT, 8:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
SATURDAY NIGHT BLUES:
In hour one, Jeff Healey spins Christmas 78’s and chats with Holger. Then in the second hour, it’s Hot Cottage Live In Edmonton. This seminal Edmonton blues/rock band began playing in 1970, and while all the members of the band have other careers, their love of music has kept them tight for all these years. Guitarist Steve Boddington, drummer
Lyndsey Umrysh, and bassist Brian Koehli are joined by keys player Mike Yuzwenko and vocalist Del Kunitz. That’s on Saturday Night Blues, with Holger Peterson, starting at 10 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
THE VINYL CAFE: ***also heard Sundays at noon (12:30 NT) and Thursdays at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***
Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend. Host Stuart McLean will have all kinds of Christmas music. And in the story, Dave is supposed to cook the Christmas turkey but can’t get the stove to work. He ends up at a hotel, hoping the kitchen can cook it for him. That’s this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Saturday morning at 10:00 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
CANADA LIVE:
Get ready for a Christmas concert like you have never heard before. Carols and Christmas favorites burn with a bright new intensity when played with the funky groove of Chris Gestrin’s B3 organ. Add to this the multi award-winning vocalist, Denzal Sinclaire doubling on drums and you get some idea of the uniqueness of this event. Cory Weeds on sax and
Bill Coon on guitar round out this fabulous group that has played to sold out houses for the past five years at The Jazz Cellar. If you want a blend of soulful jazz, funky grooves and Christmas then you have come to the right place! That’s on Canada Live, Saturday at 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
December 23, 2007
AM 740
AM740 Program Director Gene Stevens hosts ‘Vintage Favourites’ - a weekly adventure into truly vintage music - from the early 50s, the 40s, 30s and even the 1920s,
from 3-4pm
Denis Snowdon hosts a 40+ year tradition - ‘A Little Breath of Scotland’, from 4-6pm.
Frankie Benson spotlights the best in Irish music on ‘Radio Erin’ - 6-7pm.
Dec. 23rd George Jonescu features his annual Christmas program, on ‘Big Band Sunday Night’ from 7pm-mid. http://www.am740.ca
VINYL CAFE: ***Also heard Tuesday at 11 p.m. (11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***
Head for the Vinyl Cafe this weekend. Host Stuart McLean will have all kinds of Christmas music. And in the story, Dave is supposed to cook the Christmas turkey but can’t get the stove to work. He ends up at a hotel, hoping the kitchen can cook it for him. That’s this week at the Vinyl Cafe, Sunday after the noon news (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: ** NOTE: please change time to suit your time zone…Network shows say “Sunday afternoon…”
Sunday on Cross Country Checkup …food traditions…From the first bite of turkey to the last spoonful of plum pudding, from mince pieces to mulled wine …what is it about food and drink that brings us together? Why is food often among our strongest memories? What culinary delectations do you enjoy this time of year? Join Rex Murphy and Chef,
Michael Smith for a smorgasbord of tasteful traditions. That’s on Cross Country Checkup, Sunday afternoon from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One.
C’EST LA VIE: ***Also heard Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. (noon NT) on CBC Radio One***
This week on C’est la vie, discover the seasonal songs that French Canadians love. Bernard St-Laurent will be joined by C’est la vie’s Word Lady, Johanne Blais and À Propos’ Jim Corcoran, and they’ll choose their favorite tunes. We’ll also hear from francophones in Montreal and Moncton with their choices. That’s on C’est la vie, with Bernard St. Laurent, Sunday evening at 7:30 (8:30 AT, 9 NT) on CBC Radio One.
TONIC:
Tis the season for some holiday tunes, there’s everything from Gospel to Charlie Brown! There’s a spotlight on multi-instrumentalist Jeff Bird AND Stevie Wonder duets with Ella Fitzgerald! There are some Stevie Wonder covers and up & coming artists from Canada. You’ll also hear from Cowboy Junkies, Jerry Granelli and Deep Breathing Band. Tonic, with Tim Tamashiro, Sunday at 10 p.m. (11 AT, 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
IN THE KEY OF CHARLES:
Decorations of red, on a green Christmas tree, won’t be the same if you’re not here with Gregory Charles! Join him at the piano in his living room this week for Music in the Key of Blue: choral music by Charles Villiers Stanford, jazz by Miles Davis, rock ‘n’ roll by Fats
Domino, crooning by Harry Connick Jr., country by Shania Twain and even some blues by Quebec’s own Offenbach . . . not to mention Sarah McLauchlan, the Cowboy Junkies, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and some of Gregory’s favourite singers like Ann Murray, Ella Fitzgerald and Peter, Paul & Mary. That’s In the Key of Charles, with Gregory Charles, Sunday morning at 10 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
TONIC: ***Also heard Sunday at 10 p.m. (11 AT, 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio One***
Tis the season for some holiday tunes, there’s everything from Gospel to Charlie Brown! There’s a spotlight on multi-instrumentalist Jeff Bird AND Stevie Wonder duets with Ella Fitzgerald! There are some Stevie Wonder covers and up & coming artists from Canada. You’ll also hear from Cowboy Junkies, Jerry Granelli and Deep Breathing Band. Tonic, with Tim Tamashiro, Sunday at 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
CANADA LIVE:
It’s a down home Christmas as Francesca Swann takes you to one of Newfoundland’s historic homes for the warmth and good cheer of a Christmas house party. It’s the St. John’s home of Cantus Vocum’s Choir Director, Chad Stride. In between canapés and mulled wine, you’ll hear Cantus Vocum having fun with seasonal favourites. For those not
wishing to sit through the whole of Handel’s masterpiece, tune in for “The 3 Minute Messiah”! Also on the programme, “My Favourite Things” from the “Sound of Music” and a shiny new Stephen Hatfield song “Heaven to Earth”. Add local accordionist, Stan Pickett and Andrew Lang on mandocello with Christmas tunes and a few of the stories and narratives unique to this part of Canada and you’re all set for a splendid night! Canada Live, Sunday at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
THE SIGNAL:
On The Signal composer Arvo Part as he spins an epic piece commissioned by the Tate gallery entitled “Lamentate.” And what with it being Christmas and all, host Pat Carrabre will be throwing down one exhilarating choir set featuring the work of composers such as Rodney Charmon, Bruce Pullan, Linda George-Wegner and more. The voices keep
resonating, but with a slight skew, from Montreal’s The Silver Mount Zion Orchestra and Iceland’s Sigur Ros. The Signal, with Pat Carrabre, Sunday at 10 p.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
December 24, 2007
A BBC World Service tradition…
“Our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve 1918. It was planned by Eric Milner-White, who at the age of thirty-four had just been appointed Dean of King’s, after experience as an army chaplain which had convinced him that the Church of England needed more imaginative worship. A revision of the Order of Service was made in 1919, involving rearrangement of the lessons, and from that date the service has always begun with the hymn ‘Once in royal David’s city’.
“The service was first broadcast in 1928 and, with the exception of 1930, has been broadcast annually, even during the Second World War, when the ancient glass (and also all heat) had been removed from the Chapel and the name of King’s could not be broadcast for security reasons. Sometime in the early 1930’s the BBC began broadcasting the service on overseas programmes. It is estimated that there are millions of listeners worldwide, including those to Radio Four in the United Kingdom. In recent years it has become the practice to broadcast a digital recording on Christmas Day on Radio Three, and since 1963 a shorter service has been filmed periodically for television.” http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/index.html
As well as airing on the World Service it will be repeated on BBC Radio 3 and available on demand at the Radio 3 website. 1502-1630 UTC Live from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge.
A Canadian tradition…
Live from Toronto and points worldwide: As It Happens Christmas Eve. (As Christmas Eve is on a Monday this year, it might be heard on Friday evening, Dec 21. It can be heard via CBC Radio One, CBC Northern Quebec Shortwave Service, NPR in the US and Internet Audio)
Greetings are exchanged with units of the Canadian Armed Forces serving worldwide, culminating in a “group carol”.
A reading of “The Shepherd” by the late Alan “Fireside Al” Maitland follows. It’s a very unusual Christmas story about a lost RAF pilot that is not to be missed, and eagerly anticipated every year. (In fact “Fireside Al” stories are broadcast for a few days before Christmas.)
As it Happens can be heard at 630 pm, local time across Canada. http://www.cbc.ca/local
SOUNDS LIKE CANADA:It’s Christmas Eve and nothing sounds more like Canada than your letters about Christmas Traditions. You’ll hear heartwarming stories from around the country, like the one about the guy who secretly plants a perfect Christmas tree each year for his kids to “find,” chop down, and decorate. Join Shelagh Rogers as she reads your letters, and plays
some wonderful holiday tunes. Celebrate the calm before the storm…on Sounds Like Canada this morning at 10 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
Q: ***You can also hear highlights from this afternoon’s edition of Q tonight after the 10 p.m. news on CBC Radio One***
On Christmas Eve Q decks the halls with a special holiday treat… as we reunite the voice-cast of the original 1964 Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer animated special! Hey, did you know that they’re Canadian! my chat with Billie Mae Richards as Ruldolph, Paul Soles as Hermey and Carl Banas as Foreman Elf. That’s on Q, with Jian Ghomeshi, this afternoon after your local noon show on CBC Radio One.
IDEAS:
Hans Christian Andersen’s Christmas story was both old-fashioned and environmentally ahead of its time. Paul Kennedy reads The Fir Tree. That’s on Ideas, tonight at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
STUDIO SPARKS:
A concert performance from Ottawa of “Festive Moods,” a suite of three Christmas pieces by three Russian composers, Glazunov, Lyadov, (and Rimsky-Korsakov. Plus lots of other Christmas favorites to keep you company on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
Studio Sparks, with Eric Friesen, today at noon (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
TONIC:
Whether you’re wrapping gifts, cooking dinner for family and friends, driving to be with loved ones, trying to untagle those irritating strings of Christmas lights, or just hanging out at home with a glass of good cheer close by, TONIC is your ideal companion this Christmas Eve. Tune in to hear holiday music from Ella Fitzgerald, Rob McConnell & the
Boss Brass and remixes of familiar tunes by Kay Starr and Charlie Parker. There’s also some Latin jazz from the Bebo Valdes Trio, a bit of Argentinian tango, gospel music from Chris Lowe & friends, and some soulful vocals from Ivana Santilli and Jamie Foxx. Take a little Tonic, with Katie Malloch, this evening at 6:00 p.m. (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
CHML 900 carries a stunning program called “A Paul Reid Christmas” hosted by broadcasting legend, the late Paul Reid. Two hours of stories and music. It airs at 2300 UTC on Christmas Eve. Then throughout the evening, one can hear many hours of Christmas episodes of the old radio shows. Also tune in New Years Eve from 9pm-3am. Can’t hear CHML? They stream at http://www.900chml.com/
CHML 900 Hamilton, Ontario
On Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, CHML will feature hours of classic radio shows, with a Christmas/New Years theme. Spend the evening with Jack Benny, Fibber Magee and others from yesteryear. Listen beginning around 9pm Eastern.
CHML streams at http://www.900chml.com/
David Marsden’s Marsbar Theater
Christmas Eve special 7-Midnight, Eastern
The Rock 94.9 FM Oshawa
More info:
“Begging your collective indulgences here for something special in my heart.
“I just wanted to mention that tonight for 5 magical hours starting at 7:00 p.m. David Marsden will be doing his annual live Christmas Eve program at 94.9 the Rock (www.therock.fm) until midnight. It is a show for all ages and a lovely way to await Santa’s arrival. The chat room will also be open during this time as well. If you would like to join us, there is a link from www.marsdenglobal.com
“I hope you will be able to help us celebrate.
“Stay safe traveling out there. Cam Woolley and P.C. Chad Burney I’m sure will be watching.
“Make sure you all are wearing your “expanding turkey” pants tomorrow for dinner and “Hey Clark…save me the neck.”
“But most of all I hope you all have a very Merry & Magical Christmas. “
Sistah Mar (see Marilyn’s photo next to me on the “Other Stuff” page)
The Official Roving Ambassador
For the David Marsden Radio Program
In Performance: Voices of Angels
ABC Classic FM, 24 December, 8.00pm (4 am EST, 0900 GMT)
The Sydney Children’s Choir and Gonwana Voices conducted by Lyn Williams present a Christmas concert of carols and festive music, traditional, Australian and new.
http://www.abc.net.au/classic/
Christmas Day Breakfast
ABC Radio National, 25 December, 6.05am (2pm Dec 24 EST, 1900 Dec 24 GMT)
David Busch presents a special mix of music and items for Christmas. Includes Encounter at 7.10am (see Encounter listings below) and a feature on the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, Melbourne, at 8.05am.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
ABC Classic FM, 25 December, 1.05pm (905 pm Dec 24 EST, 0205 Dec 24 GMT)
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, directed by Stephen Cleobury, with organist Oliver Brett.http://www.abc.net.au/classic/
Deutsche Welle’s German Service has traditionally suspended regular programming on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to devote that time to holiday oriented programming. http://www.dw-world.de/
In the past, CBC Radio 1 did not run CBC Overnight service as usual on Christmas Eve/Day, Christmas Day/Boxing Day instead Rick Phillips, host of Sound Advice on CBC Radio 1 and 2 presented “Mistletoe And Egg Nog” playing Christmas Music of a symphonic nature and in place of World Radio Network programming on Boxing Day Morning, he played the entire Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky, and other major works, pausing only for news on the hour.
For those with access to CFMT – TV, Toronto, one can watch many Christmas/New Year’s extravaganzas from around the world, from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and others. Check your listings as they say. Cable Pulse 24 broadcasts of Daily Planet are extended on holidays too, an opportunity to see television broadcasts from around the world. These normally air at 3 am Toronto time daily. It used to stream at www.pulse24.com, but apparently no longer
Radio New Zealand National
(Christmas Day in New Zealand would still be Christmas Eve in North America. 6 am in Wellington is 12 noon in Ontario, the day before)
6:00 am
Christmas Morning with Katrina Batten
6:00 am
Join Katrina Batten for a special morning of seasonal greetings, favourite stories and music for the day. Features include the Christmas Church Service at 7.06am, and at 9.06am we’ve the classic tale ‘Badjelly the Witch’, by Spike Milligan.
Afternoon Highlights
Radio New Zealand National brings you an afternoon of stories by leading New Zealand authors and musical treats recorded through the year.
1:06 pm Dudley Benson - Live at St Matthew in the City
A stunning concert in a magical setting by former choir boy turned pop composer Dudley Benson. Accompanied by a choir and string quartet, we’re treated to Benson’s Wuthering Heights-via-Banks Peninsula compositions, including versions of the negro-spiritual ‘Deep River’, and Kate Bush’s song ‘Hounds of Love’. This is a special full-length recording of the concert.
Produced by Radio New Zealand National.
3:06 pm Café of the Gates of Salvation - Live at St Andrews on the Terrace
Led by ex-pat Kiwi composer, singer and arranger Tony Backhouse, this 30 person Sydney based gospel choir provides the perfect tonic to post Christmas lunch indulgence. Equally comfortable in churches or night clubs, the choir appeals to a range of audiences no matter what their musical or religious predilections. Recorded at St Andrews on the Terrace in Wellington.
Produced by Radio New Zealand National.
Evening Hightlights
9:06 pm Garrison Keillor’s Radio Show
A seasonal hour with special guests Walter Bobbie, Rob Fisher, and Kristin Chenoweth. Produced by PHP.
10:12 pm A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert
Featuring Kathleen Battle, Frederica Von Stade, Nancy Allen and the Wynton Marsalis Septet with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, conducted by Andre Previn and Robert de Cormier. Produced by Sony Music.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/highlights/christmas_day
Follow the link on the left side of the page to tune in via the internet.
Radio Prague
Czech Music
Monday’s show on December 24th will focus on traditional Czech Christmas music, and your hosts on Christmas Eve will be David Vaughan and Patricia Goodson.
IRELAND
JOE DUFFY ON GRAFTON STREETDate: Monday 24th December 2007
Time: 9.02am
Presenter: Joe Duffy
Producers: Margaret Curley, Jane Murphy, Fergus Sweeney
Joe invites listeners to join him for his traditional Christmas Eve programme, live from Grafton Street. Familiar faces such as Brendan O’Carroll, Brush Shields and many more will be stopping by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and add to the festive fun!
The programme will also be available to watch via a live webcam.
LINK TO WEBCAM WILL APPEAR HERE.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/specials/1177483.html
CHRISTMAS EVE 2007
Special programming for Christmas Eve, Monday 24th December 2007, on RTÉ Radio 1.
RISIN’ TIME with Carol Moran: 5.30am - Website
The best music mix to start the day with news, weather, traffic and sport
MORNING IRELAND: 7am - Website
With Aine Lawlor, Cathal Mac Coille
Live News, sports, weather and traffic from the country’s most listened to Radio programme
Joe DuffyJOE DUFFY ON GRAFTON STREET: 9.02am - Website
Joe invites listeners to join him for his traditional Christmas Eve programme, live from Grafton Street. Familiar faces such as Brendan O’Carroll, Brush Shields and many more will be stopping by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and add to the festive fun!
Producers: Margaret Curley, Jane Murphy, Fergus Sweeney
TODAY WITH PAT KENNY: 10am - Website
The mid-morning current affairs magazine with the stories of the day, sharp analysis, in-depth features and consumer interest
Producers: Kay Sheehy, Tara Campbell, Conor Kavanagh, Dónal O’Herlihy
THE RONAN COLLINS SHOW: 11am - Website
For a break from all that news and information throughout the day, check out Ronan Collins on RTÉ Radio 1 where you’ll find a feast of music and laughs. A feel-good show to help you through your day.
NEWS AT ONE: 1pm - Website
with Sean O’Rourke
A RING OF BELLS: 1.45pm
Bells are something we hear on a daily basis, a clock, the angelus, church bells and the school bell are just some of those familiar sounds. At Christmas time, bells become something different though. They seem to be tinged with warmth and a touch of magic. This is most evident in their use in Christmas carols, films and of course on Santa’s sleigh.
A Ring of Bells looks at the magic of the bell during the festive period.
Producer: Liam O’Brien
Derek MooneyMOONEY: 2.00pm - Website
Derek is joined by Santa with messages from children all around the country.
Producer: Jim Lockhart, Brian Lally, Eileen Heron
FESTIVAL SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS FROM ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN: 4.00pm
The annual Christmas Eve Carol Service concludes with the Blessing by His Grace, The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Reverend John Neill.
Organist and Master of the Choristers: Peter Barley
Assistant organist: David Leigh
Brass fanfare directed by Nigel Bannister
MaxiDRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: 5.15pm
With Christmas preparations and travel almost complete, the first lit and Santa on his way, Maxi takes us through the evening with lively music and conversation.
Producer: Peter Browne
THE DAVE FANNING SHOW CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIAL: 7.02pm - Website
A special programme on the notorious American music producer Phil Spector,
featuring music from the popular 1963 Phil Spector Christmas Album
Producers: Jack Murphy, Siobhán Mannion, Olan McGowan
THE ARTS SHOW: 8.02pm - Website
Festive poems and music for Christmas time feature on tonight’s show.
Presenter: Vincent Woods
THE RADIO 1 MUSIC COLLECTION - THE CHRISTMAS SONG: 9.02pm
A Christmas Eve night of seasonal favourites with Hayley Westenra and guest tenor Paul Byrom with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Recorded at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Tuesday 4th December 2007.
Producer: Peter Browne
THE GREEN LIGHT - NORTHERN LIGHTS: 10.02pm - Website
On Christmas Eve The Green Light explores the fascinating facts and fictions surrounding Winter Light. On December 24th the focus on The Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis, the phenomenon of bands or streamers of coloured light, reds, greens, blues and violets, that appear in the sky predominantly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the earth. In Finnish Lapland there can be up to 200 displays a year. They are called “revontulet”, which means “fox fires” a name derived from an ancient Finnish fable of the arctic fox starting fires or spraying up snow with its brush-like tail. The true story is that the sun is the father of the auroras, when material thrown off the surface of the sun collides with the atmosphere of the Earth. Ella McSweeney explores both the science and the folklore in this special feature on The Northern Lights.
Producer: Liz Sweeney
SEASCAPES: 10.30pm - Website
It may be Christmas time, but the sea never stops rolling onto our shores, shipping never stops, nor do the rescue services take a break. Tonight Seascapes talks to seafarers and marine rescue personnel, hears stories of shipping experiences and of tragedy at Christmas time. There will be requests from families at home for those at sea and festive music, on this Christmas Eve edition of Seascapes.
Presenter: Tom MacSweeney
Producer: Marcus Connaughton
SING CHRISTMAS: 11.03pm
Invited guests talk about Christmas customs in their own countries and choose some of their favorites traditional carols.
Presenter/producer: Ian Lee
MIDNIGHT MASS: 12 midnight
From St. Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin
Celebrant: Father Donal Neary, S.J.
Cantor: Margaret Brennan
Organist: Denise Doyle
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/specials/1174491.html
Christmas Day, December 25, 2007
BBC World Service – The Queen’s Christmas Message
“’And a Merry Christmas to you all!’ Those of us who can remember no other monarch than Elizabeth II have come to hear those words as an indelible part of Christmas Day – that 3pm moment when the racket of Top of the Pops was hushed, and the family paid dutiful attention (more or less) to Her Majesty’s Christmas address to the Commonwealth.
“It was in 1932 that the Queen’s grandfather, George V, made the first Christmas broadcast from Sandringham. Many families now owned a radio set, and they clustered around it eagerly to hear the King speak his seasonal greetings in the stilted tones of the natural amateur. For a while, George VI abandoned the broadcast, feeling it was associated too strongly in people’s minds with his father, but the tradition was revived in wartime.” http://www.icons.org.uk/nom/nominations/the-queen-speech
“’To men and women so cut off by the snows, the desert, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them: to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness, or infirmity; and to those who are celebrating this day with their children and grand-children. To all - to each - I wish a Happy Christmas. God Bless You!’” (From the first “Royal Christmas Message”) http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page385.asp
Queen Elizabeth II has made a broadcast in every year of her reign. It was live until 1960 when the policy was to record it in advance so it could be shown in many countries at an appropriate time. It then moved to the internet in 1999 as well. To this day it remains the one time of the year that the Queen speaks to all the people of the British Commonwealth. Its one of the longer lived broadcasts on the BBC World Service.
BBC Radio 4 Programming
09:45
Book of the Week
The King’s Glass
24 December 2007
Carola Hicks’s book traces the history of the wonderful stained glass windows of the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, and the people who created them.
One of Europe’s best known buildings, the chapel is particularly in the minds of many at Christmas as its Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is broadcast around the world.
Read by Samuel West.
Followed by News.
11:00
Together against the Odds
24 December 2007
Janet Reibstein presents a series on relationships which have survived.
Gillian and Stewart met when he was 26 and she was 42. Nobody expected their relationship to last 20 days, but they are still together 20 years later.
15:00
Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols
Stephen Cleobury directs the choir for the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Cambridge.
18:30
I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue
24 December 2007
Highlights from recent series of the perennial antidote to panel games.
Regulars Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor are joined by special guests including Stephen Fry, Jeremy Hardy, Rob Brydon, Jack Dee and Andy Hamilton.
Chairman Humphrey Lyttelton ensures that disorder prevails.
With Colin Sell at the piano.
Followed by News.
20:00
Things We Forgot to Remember
On Suffragettes
Michael Portillo presents a series revisiting the great moments of history to discover that they often conceal other events of equal but forgotten importance.
Suffragettes are now remembered as the acceptable face of direct action, but parts of the movement’s history have been conveniently forgotten, including a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Herbert Asquith in 1909 and a series of arson attacks.
21:00
Don’t Hang Up
24 December 2007
Alan Dein calls a public telephone anywhere in the world, hoping that someone will answer.
Dein evokes Christmas in Florida, Georgia and Alaska. In the little town of Bethlehem, New Zealand, there are strange travellers with tales to tell.
23:30
Midnight Mass
The first Mass of Christmas is celebrated in the spectacular setting of Westminster Cathedral.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, reflects on how Christ’s birth into fear and poverty can speak to a global society in the 21st century. The service begins with a candlelit vigil of music, readings and psalms before the midnight hour is heralded by bells and the singing of the Gloria.
BBC Radio 4 Christmas Eve schedule here.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (via Richard Cuff):
This annual tradition continues on the BBC World Service as well as the domestic Radio 4 and Radio 3.
Tune in on Monday, Christmas Eve, as follows:
1500 UT - Radio 4 / World Service live webcast / Europe SW / US public
radio webcast including WGBH / KXPR / Vermont Public Radio / WKAR 90.5
2130 UT - West Africa shortwave (15400, 6110 khz)
0100 UT Tuesday - Americas XM BBCWS
1400 UT Tuesday - BBC Radio 3
2300 UT Tuesday - Vermont Public Radio
***
Radio Sweden
You can hear our Christmas Special on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
HOLLY & MAPLE:
Host Catherine Belyea ushers in Christmas Day with six hours of well-chosen music. She’ll have everything from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio to French noels to the music of Georgian England, plus a musical visit to Central Europe. Holly & Maple, Christmas morning at midnight (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
MUSIC AND COMPANY: ***pre-empts The Current***
Tom Allen’s a familiar voice to listeners of CBC Radio Two with his weekday morning show Music & Company. But on Christmas Day, he’s also on Radio One, bringing you seasonal music and stories. He’ll start out with a tasty mix of classical music and holiday favourites. Music & Company, Christmas morning at 6 a.m. (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
THE MESSIAH: ***pre-empts Sounds Like Canada and C’est la vie***
The annual broadcast of Handel’s Messiah is a treasured holiday tradition for CBC listeners. This year, Eric Friesen presents a made-in-Canada Messiah: a live concert recording by the National Arts Centre Orchestra, soloists, and two choirs: the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, and Seventeen Voyces, all under the direction of leading Baroque
interpreter Trevor Pinnock. The soloists include some of Canada’s finest vocal stars: Kathleen Brett, soprano; Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto; Gordon Gietz, tenor, and Joshua Hopkins, baritone. The Messiah, this morning at 10 (10:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
QUEEN’S MESSAGE:
Tune in to CBC Radio One Christmas Day for the annual message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. The Queen gives her greeting to the Commonwealth Christmas Day at 12:50 (1: 20 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio One.
CHRISTMAS SING-IN: ***pre-empts Q
A kaleidescope of Christmas music for choir, brass, percussion, organ and an audience of 1500 from The Church of St Andrew and St Paul in Montreal. It’s the 28th annual CBC Christmas Sing-In featuring the Choir of The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, with organist Jonathan Oldengarm, trumpeter Niklas Eklund, and a brass ensemble led by Guy
Bernard, all under the direction of Julian Wachner. Also featured is special guest soprano Marianne Fiset, winner of the 2007 Montreal International Musical Competition. That’s the Christmas Sing In, today at 1 (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE:
Join host Andrew Craig for a concert recorded at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio, with featured performer Holly Johnson, and special guest Ben Hepner. Also joining in the festivities are saxophonist Colleen Allen, Guido Basso on trumpet, Mike Downes on bass, Mark Kelso on drums, and Joe Sealy on piano. Come on inside where it’s nice and warm because Baby It’s Cold Outside, Christmas afternoon at 3 (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio
One.
EBU “JOY TO THE WORLD” SPECIAL
Let CBC Radio One add some musical tang to your Christmas dinner with Joy to the World, highlights from the EBU day-long holiday special broadcast last Sunday on Radio Two. You’ll hear choirs and songs from across Europe. Joy to the World, Christmas Day at 5:05 p.m. (5:35 NT) on CBC Radio One.
STEVE BELL AND THE WINNIPEG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
Juno Award winning Steve Bell and his band join the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra this holiday season for a “Feast of Seasons.” From holiday classics, to traditional hymns, and storytelling, Steve shares his gift for poetic songwriting and spiritual thoughtfulness. His musings on life as a Christian and his experiences working with those less fortunate make for an evening of memorable moments. Join Steve Bell and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, this evening at 7 (7:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
MONTREAL: YOUTH CHOIR GALA AND BACH FESTIVAL:
Tune in this evening for a two hour choral extravaganza featuring some of Quebec’s best choirs. From Pollack Hall in Montreal, the CBC/McGill Concert Series presents its 5th annual Youth Choir Gala. Guest conductor Zimfira Poloz leads two hundred young singers from Montreal and Ottawa: The McGill Conservatory Youth Choir, the EMSB Senior
Chorale, Les Voix Boréales, the Montreal Children’s Choir, the Ensemble Vocal Senior De La Salle, and the South Shore Children’s Chorus, in a programme of holiday favourites from around the world. Podorhythmist Pierre Chartrand, accordionist Frank Sears, and fiddler André Brunet join the singers in a grand finale featuring a CBC commissioned suite by Erica Phare of Christmas songs made famous by Quebec social activist-folksinger Mary Travers, known as La Bolduc. And then it’s Les Violons du Roy et La Chapelle de Québec. From the echoing Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Montreal, conductor Bernard Labadie leads les Violons du Roy, la Chapelle de Québec, and an all-star Canadian cast of soloists in J.S. Bach’s sparkling and exuberant Magnificat. A glorious holiday feast for the ears! The Youth Choir Gala and Bach Festival, tonight at 9 (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
HALIFAX CHRISTMAS:
“A New Kind of Light” celebrates everything good that Christmas brings. It’s about great music with singer/songwriters Jill Barber, Rose Cousins and Meaghan Smith - 3 of the brightest rising stars on the East Coast music scene. It’s also about celebrating their new CD of the same name, but most of all it’s about giving - all of the proceeds from the concert ticket sales and the CD sales go to Maritime food banks. “A New Kind of Light” features Jill Barber, Rose Cousins and Meaghan Smith with the “Blue Christmas Band” at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre in Halifax. Halifax Christmas with Heidi Petracek - Christmas day at 1 (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS:
It’s a down home Christmas as Francesca Swann takes you to one of Newfoundland’s historic homes for the warmth and good cheer of a Christmas house party. It’s the St. John’s home of Cantus Vocum’s Choir Director, Chad Stride. In between canapés and mulled wine, you’ll hear Cantus Vocum having fun with seasonal favourites. For those not wishing to sit through the whole of Handel’s masterpiece, tune in for “The 3 Minute Messiah”! Also on the programme, “My Favourite Things” from the “Sound of Music” and a shiny new Stephen Hatfield song “Heaven to Earth”. Add local accordionist, Stan Pickett and Andrew Lang on mandocello with Christmas tunes and a few of the stories and narratives unique to this part of Canada and you’re all set for a splendid night! Home for Chirstmas, tonight at midnight (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio One.
THE MESSIAH:
The annual broadcast of Handel’s Messiah is a treasured holiday tradition for CBC listeners. This year, Eric Friesen presents a made-in-Canada Messiah: a live concert recording by the National Arts Centre Orchestra, soloists, and two choirs: the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, and Seventeen Voyces, all under the direction of leading Baroque
interpreter Trevor Pinnock. The soloists include some of Canada’s finest vocal stars: Kathleen Brett, soprano; Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto; Gordon Gietz, tenor, and Joshua Hopkins, baritone. The Messiah, at noon (12:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
HALIFAX CHRISTMAS:
“A New Kind of Light” celebrates everything good that Christmas brings. It’s about great music with singer/songwriters Jill Barber, Rose Cousins and Meaghan Smith - 3 of the brightest rising stars on the East Coast music scene. It’s also about celebrating their new CD of the same name, but most of all it’s about giving - all of the proceeds from the concert ticket sales and the CD sales go to Maritime food banks. “A New Kind of Light” features Jill Barber, Rose Cousins and Meaghan Smith with the “Blue Christmas Band” at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre in Halifax. Halifax Christmas with Heidi Petracek, on Christmas day at 5 (5:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
A CANADIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS:
Recorded during the holiday season at the CBC Galleria in Regina, it’s an easy-listening acoustic show performed before a live audience who were invited to make donations to the local food bank. There’s lots of original seasonal music by a host of singer/songwriters. Players include Sean Hogan, Julian Austin, Duane Steele, Samantha King, Greg Hanna plus 3 sideman in back up band. Tune in for a Canadian Country Christmas, this evening at 6 (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two.
John Cleary Presents: Archbishop John Sentamu
ABC Local Radio, 25 December, 6.00pm (2am EST, 0700 GMT)
The Anglican Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, made international headlines this month when, during an interview on BBC television, he cut his clerical collar into pieces as a protest against world inaction over the plight of Zimbabwe. Far from being an eccentric act, it is typical of a man who sees the role of the church as being at the centre of life. John Sentamu talks with John Cleary about politics, sex, music, power and the place of the church in the world.
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/localradio/
Encounter
Sundays at 7.10am, repeated Wednesdays at 7.10pm (310 am EST, 0810 GMT)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/ (MP3 download available)
25 December: Christmas Day special - The Innocents
Children today are growing up fast - shouldering the burdens of family breakdown, violence and sexual abuse. But are they losing their innocence? And is “innocence” a helpful concept to bring to children and their concerns? Produced by David Rutledge.
The Ark
Produced by Rachael Kohn
Sundays 3.45 pm (2345pm the day before EST, 0445 GMT); repeated Wednesdays 8.35 pm (435 am, 0935 GMT)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ark/ (MP3 download available)
23 December: Brides of Slice
The first home-grown Catholic women’s religious order in Australia, the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict have a long baking tradition, starting from Granny Truss who migrated from Germany in the 1800s. Her recipes have been handed down by the Good Sams and carried on by two ‘eighty-something’ Sisters who bake Christmas goodies for people in need.
The Spirit of Things
Produced by Rachael Kohn
Sundays 6.05 pm (205 am EST, 0705 GMT), repeated Tuesdays 1.05 pm 905pm the day before EST, 0205 GMT)
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/spiritofthings/ (MP3 download available)
23 December: Christmas Three Ways
The Mormons, founded in the 1860s, are often accused of not being Christians, so what do they believe about Christmas and how do they celebrate it? Also joining us to give their views on celebrating Christmas are Catholic nuns of the Good Samaritan order, and Uniting Church minister, the Rev’d Rex A.E. Hunt who is the Director of the Centre for Progressive Religious Thought in Canberra.
ABC CLASSIC FM
For the God Who Sings
Presented by Stephen Watkins
Sundays 10.30pm (630 am EST, 1130 GMT)
http://www.abc.net.au/classic/ftgws/
23 December: O-Antiphons
The Greater Antiphons for the seven days before Christmas Eve, used since the 8th century, are wonderfully encased in music.
30 December: A Child is Born
Music for Christmas, saints, Holy Innocents and New Year includes George Palmer’s Mass, “A Child is Born”.
6 January: Kings of Sheba
Light, star, camels, gifts and murder tell of Epiphany in music for Twelfth Night.
ABC LOCAL RADIO ACROSS AUSTRALIA
Sunday Nights with John Cleary
Sundays, 10.10pm AEST (610 am EST, 1110 GMT)
http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/default.htm (MP3 download
available)
Four hours of talkback, feature interviews, the Inquizition, and the One O’Clock Chat Room. Plus, over summer, some of the best of radio National’s religious programs.
23 December: Christmas Facts and Fictions
In what year did Christmas begin? If you’re thinking of cards and presents, trees, reindeer and snow, the year would be 1843. That’s the year Charles Dickens published ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Henry Cole sent the first Christmas Card. On Sunday Night, John Cleary is joined by John Carmody and Bill Leadbetter to sort truth from legend in the songs and stories of Christmas. And we recall Charles Dickens public performances of
‘A Christmas Carol’, with James Adler and Phil Zachariah of Eagles Nest Theatre.
Radio Prague
Special
On Christmas Day Jan Richter will have a rather special guest – Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Czech Republic.
Also in our December 25th programme Rosie Johnston finds out all about how Czech companies are exporting Christmas decorations around the world.
IRELAND
Special programming for Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December 2007, on RTÉ Radio 1.
JOY TO THE WORLD: 6.00am
A blend of seasonal music with Padraig O’Rourke on Christmas morning.
Producer: Padraig O’Rourke
BOWMAN CHRISTMAS MORNING: 8.05am - Website
John Bowman presents a seasonal selection if recordings form RTÉ’s Sound Archive.
CHRISTMAS MISCELLANY: 9.05am - Website
A mix of Christmas music and musings.
Producer: Cliodhna Ni Anluain
CHRISTMAS MORNING MASS: 10.02am
From St. Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin
Celebrant: Fr. William J. Reynolds, S.J.
Church Choir with organist: Denice Doyle.
Cantor: Cathy Keane.
WORSHIP FOR CHRISTMAS MORNING: 10.50am
From St. Columba’s College, Whitechurch, Dublin.
THE TUBRIDY SHOW CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: 11.35am - Website
With the presents unwrapped and the turkey in the oven, Ryan Tubridy and his guests unwind with music and chat for Christmas morning. To mark one of the biggest dates in the Christian calendar, Ryan discusses the power of prayer with a panel of both believers and unbelievers. Eimear Quinn will perform songs from her new album, O Holy Night.
Producers: Tom Donnelly, Deirdre Ni Fhloinn, Sheila O’Callaghan
CHRISTMAS MESSAGES: 1.05pm
From His Eminence Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of
Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and The Most Reverend Alan E.T. Harper, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
CAROLS, CRIBS AND CREEDON: 1.15pm
John Creedon brings us a programme of Carols for Christmas day. Just back from church or visiting relatives? You can relax for a while with John Creedon as he enjoys some Christmas music with friends old and new. The Cork school of music opened its doors after years of campaigning, this year with a state of the art facility and an ideal venue for the burgeoning talent to perform. A special recording in the Curtis auditorium of the school captures the vibrancy and talent of the young music makers there.
Cara O Sullivan, soprano, gives a powerful rendition of O Holy Night and singer/songwriter John Spillane unveils a brand new composition appropriate for the day called Christmas Day. There will also be chat as John remembers the visiting of the Cribs with cork born author Christy Kenneally, who reads, a seasonal piece ,from his own memoirs “Maura’s Boy”.
Producer: Alf McCarthy
IN CONVERSATION WITH EAMON DUNPHY: 2.00pm - Website
A special edition of Conversations with Eamon Dunphy.
Producer: Sarah Binchy
DOCUMENTARY - LAST CHRISTMAS ON INISTURK: 3.02pm
- Website
A documentary by Proinnsias O Conluain on islanders final Christmas on Inisturk
Producer: Proinnsias O Conluain
(First broadcast December 1973)
A RING OF BELLS: 3.45pm
We are all familiar with the sound of bells on a daily basis, the Angelus bell, Church bells and the school bell. At Christmas time bells become something different, tinged with warmth and a touch of magic. This is most evident in their use in Christmas carols,
films and of course on Santa’s sleigh
This programme looks at the magic of bells during the festive period
Presented and produced by Liam O’Brien
NIGEL WOODS WIDE WORLD OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC: 4.02pm - Website
Nigel Woods offers a multicultural presentation of Christmas Music, joining different musical traditions from around the world with the religious and joyous spirit of the festive season. An outward-looking and inclusive musical programme for Christmas Day.
Producer: Aidan Butler
ALL ABOUT SNOW: 5.02pm
A programme that explores the magic of snow. How is it formed? Why is it white? What is its enduring appeal? And how has it provided artistic inspiration?
Producer: Siobhán Mannion (Repeat)
AN NOLLAIG THAR SAILE: 5.30pm
The variety of international Christmas traditions is reflected in words and music by Irish people who have experienced the festive season in Spain, Australia, Finland and Austria. Cathal Póirtéir presents the musings of Diarmaid Ó Muirithe, Mícheál Briody, Tomás Mac Síomóin and Eibhlín Ní Bheaglaoich.
Lá Nollag cuireann Cathal Póirtéir Éagsúlacht na Nollag thar sáile inár láthair, i bhfocail agus ceol atá roghnaith ag Gaeil i gcéin: Diarmaid Ó Muirithe i Vienna, Tomás Mac Síomóin sa Chatalóin, Mícheal Briody san Fhionlainn agus Eibhlín Ní Bheaglaíoch a chónaigh san Astráil.
Léiritheoir: Cathal Póirtéir
O’BRIEN ON SONG: 6.05pm - Website
Jack O’Brien presents some songs of sweet contest from his Christmas tree of seasonal melodies.
AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - CHRISTMAS POETRY SPECIAL: 7.02pm - Website
Pat Boran is joined by guests who celebrate the day by choosing their favourite poetry, music and personal highlights of the year.
Producer: Seamus Hosey
THE ARTS SHOW - TOM MUNNELLY: 8.02pm - Website
To-night’s programme looks at the life of song collector Tom Munnelly who died in August of this year.
Presenter: Vincent Woods
Producers: Sian O’Gorman, Aoife Nic Cormaic, Kevin Brew
ROOTS FREEWAY: 9.02pm - Website
Relax and chill out this Christmas night with Niall Toner and some of the best festive music.
Producer: Aidan Butler
CHRISTMAS PRESENT: 10.02pm
Brendan Balfe presents words and music to round off this Christmas Day.
Christmas Present mixes with Christmas Past, when Brendan Balfe delves into his extensive archive of people and performers he met and worked with. ‘It’s a personal collection of music I have liked over the years’, Brendan says, ‘as well as some clips and interviews with people I have met and admire’. Blended together in the unique Balfean way, it’s the perfect end to what we hope was a perfect Christmas Day.
LATE DATE: 12.03am - Website
The perfect musical end to this Christmas Day with Lilian Smith.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/specials/1174498.html
Deutsche Welle
Hits in Germany
25.12. - Hits in Germany: Pop Music from the German Charts
It’s time to wrap up the year in German music.
The DW-WORLD Article
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evx83aIf6ketyI4
BBC Radio 4 Christmas Day Programming
06:00
Archive Hour
25 December 2007
In June 2007, the Royal Festival Hall reopened after a major refurbishment. Harry Enfield explores its history through music and anecdotes from the BBC and Southbank Centre archives.
Followed by News.
07:45
Christmastime
25 December 2007
Series revealing the fun and frenzy of our holiday preparations.
Thousands of geese are bred and sold for Christmas from a Worcestershire farm.
Followed by News.
08:00
News Quiz
25 December 2007
Sandi Toksvig introduces a selection of the funniest moments of 2007 from the News Quiz year. Featured guests include Jeremy Hardy, Andy Hamilton and Francis Wheen.
09:00
Christmas Service
A service from Wesley’s Chapel, London, led by Rev Dr Leslie Griffiths. Preacher is Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, president of the Methodist Conference. Music comes from classical girls’ group All Angels and chamber choir Canticum, directed by Mark Forkgen and Simon Lole.
09:45
Book of the Week
The King’s Glass
25 December 2007
Carola Hicks’s book traces the history of the wonderful stained glass windows of the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, and the people who created them.
Henry VII used the chapel as a propaganda vehicle to emphasise his rightful claim to the throne.
Read by Samuel West.
12:00
Humph in Wonderland
The team from I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue present their own unique take on Lewis Carroll’s most famous work, casting their reluctant chairman Humphrey Lyttelton in the title role.
14:15
Pick of the Year
25 December 2007
Lenny Henry chooses his favourite moments from the best of BBC Radio 2007.
Followed by News.
15:00
HM the Queen
The Queen’s Christmas message to the peoples of the Commonwealth, followed by the national anthem.
15:05
Afternoon Play
84 Charing Cross Road
Helene Hanff’s classic story, adapted by James Roose-Evans, chronicles the enduring friendship between a feisty American writer and a reserved English gentleman. The tale spans two continents and three decades.
16:35
Making History
25 December 2007
Vanessa Collingridge presents the series exploring ordinary people’s links with the past.
Followed by News.
19:15
Inside the Cavern