Upcoming holiday programming:
Wednesday, December 21st:
10PM-12PM-Paul Winter’s 36th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration
Celebrate the Return of the Sun -- and the warming of the heart with Paul Winter's Annual Winter Solstice Celebration. On the darkest night of the year, we head back to New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious cathedral pipe organ. The performance brings traditional holiday favorites and new sounds from around the world with special guests Ivan Lins and Renato Braz. Hosted by John Schaefer.
Friday, December 23rd:
9AM-10AM-Hanukkah Lights 2016
A perennial NPR favorite with all new Hanukkah stories. Authors include R.L. Maizes, Elisa Albert, Ellen Orleans, and Lia Pripstein. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
10AM-11AM-All Songs Considered for the Holidays
Bob's had it with the holidays. He storms out of the studio and finds himself taking a Dickensian journey, with visits from some old friends including Carrie Brownstein, Dan Auerbach, Aimee Mann, Ben Folds, and more. And um, they will also play the usual unusual holiday songs.
11AM-12PM-Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs
One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.
12PM-1PM-Midday Magazine
1PM- The Moth Holiday Special 2016: Unexpected Gifts of December
A special holiday hour from The Moth. The unexpected gifts of December: holiday customs, brand new traditions, flying cows, fruit, luminaries and a magical forest. Hosted by The Moth’s executive producer, Sarah Austin Jenness.
2PM Jonathan Winters’ A Christmas Carol
An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy.
Sunday, December 25th:
1PM-3PM-A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Pipedreams host Michael Barone presents this live service of spoken-word and music (choral and organ) broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King's College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of biblical readings and music.
Monday, Dec 26th:
9AM-11AM-The Emergence of Otis Redding
A lively ride through the story of the soul star’s all-too-brief career but long-enduring legacy. We’ll hear from other musicians, music writers, fans and family of Otis Redding plus plenty of his most important music. Hour Two is a deeper dive into Redding's music and story.
11AM-12PM-A Season’s Griot
A Season's Griot is public radio's only nationally syndicated Kwanzaa program. Hosted for 22 years by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson, this annual one-hour special captures the tales and traditions of African American and African peoples. This year’s program will celebrate family & celebration. The show’s poet laureate, Beverly Burnette, and other members of the Season’s Griot family return and familiar and favorite elements of Griot will also be in place with plenty of music.
12PM-1PM-Midday Magazine
2PM-3PM-Candles Burning Brightly
A one-hour celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights. Mindy Ratner hosts this holiday favorite and exploration of Chanukah foods and traditional activities - and plenty of music.
January 1st:
12AM-5AM-Toast of the Nation
Festive jazz you can party to. Spirited, improvised, and swinging, each segment stops in a Blue Note venue throughout the country and the world! We’ll hear sets from The Dirty Dozen Brass Band in Hawaii, Joshua Redman and Brad Meldau in Tokyo, pianist Fred Hersch in Beijing, Ron Carter and Buika in New York City, and Dee Dee Bridgewater from Blue Note Napa.
3PM-5PM-New Year’s Day from Vienna
This year's New Year’s Day concert from Vienna promises to be epoch making. The program from the Muzikverein will be conducted by LA Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel. Dudamel is the first Latin-born and the youngest conductor in the 75 year history of the tradition. The 2017 New Year’s concert features the first appearance of the Vienna Singverein, the Muzikverein’s 230 strong concert choir and works from five composers, in addition to the traditional Strauss family. You'll hear plenty of waltzes, polkas, and more -- a festive way to start off the New Year.
January 2nd:
9AM-A Show for You: A Leon Russell Appreciation
Produced the day after Leon Russell's death on November 13, 2016, music host Paul Ingles plays some spectacular Leon Russell performances and reviews his career with guest contributors Steve Pendlebury, Gardner Campbell, Darren Devivo and Scott Freiman.
10AM-A Bow to Prince: An Appreciation of the Artist
Paul Ingles hosts an hour of music and reflections by his friends and fans of music legend Prince who died April 21, 2016.
11AM- Ten from David: A David Bowie Appreciation
Paul Ingles and NPR Music's Ann Powers host a survey of the music of British musician David Bowie, who died January 10, 2016 of cancer at 69.
12PM-Midday Magazine
2PM—Capitol Steps New Years
If only the Capitol Steps had some funny material to work with in 2016…is something that will never cross your mind when listening to their Year In Review New Year’s special. All your election favorites will be there: President Elect Trump, Hillary, Bernie Sanders, Vladimir Putin…wait, what? Let’s not let the election divide us any further. Tune in, and let’s unite in laughter! And for goodness sake, can someone give Merrick Garland a hug?