Compact Discoveries 25: A Symphony for Santa Claus

PRX

Compact Discoveries 25: A Symphony for Santa Claus

Series: Compact Discoveries
From: Fred Flaxman
Length: 00:56:56

Fred Flaxman presents the delightful "Santa Claus Symphony" by William Henry Fry. Read the full description.

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Piece Description

This program, when originally released for national distribution through the WFMT Radio Network, was called "Christmas Music for Those Who Are Sick and Tired of Christmas Music." Featured is the rarely heard but delightful "Santa Claus Symphony" by William Henry Fry, the first native-born American to compose for large symphonic forces. Tony Rowe conducts the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in this world-premiere recording. Complete script with playlist is available here and at www.compactdiscoveries.com.

Broadcast History

Produced by Fred Flaxman and broadcast by WXEL-FM, West Palm Beach, Fla., in 2002 and first distributed the following year by the WFMT Radio Network. But this program could be repeated every Christmas season. Made available to PRX in Dec., 2006.

Transcript

Compact Discoveries?
a series of one-hour radio programs produced, written, hosted, and edited by Fred Flaxman
?2002 by Fred Flaxman

Program 25
"Christmas Music for Those
Who are Sick and Tired
of Christmas Music"

MUSIC: Fry: Santa Claus Symphony (excerpt)[Naxos 8.559057, track 1] under the following:

FLAXMAN: Welcome to Compact Discoveries. I'm your guide, Fred Flaxman.

Call me Scrooge if you want, but at about this time every year I become sick and tired of hearing Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and the "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's Messiah everywhere I go! Elevators, stores and radio stations inundate everyone with one Christmas tune after another. When you phone a business and they put you on hold, chances are they'll play Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer for you, whether you like it or not.

So I'm devoting this hour of Compact Discoveries to "Christmas Music for Tho...
Read the full transcript