WCPE New World Weekend: Thanksgiving Programming

Music Director William Woltz of WCPE, TheClassicalStation.Org announces the Thanksgiving weekend Great Classical Music line-up. WCPE's selections will focus on the diverse heritage of the people that have become the American melting pot and how international styles and traditions have blended and are being transformed to create America’s unique culture and music. “Thanksgiving weekend has always been a celebration of welcome,” says Woltz. “We celebrate the first immigrants to America and the blending of cultures, traditions and experiences that have made America great.”

During Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 22, WCPE will blend classic American compositions including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Copland’s Rodeo with international cultural expressions including: British composer Handel’s Music for Royal Fireworks, Scottish composer Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra and Spanish Composer Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. A particularly poignant offering will be Czech Composer Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” Written during his visit to the United States in the 1890’s, this symphony expresses his study and interest in Native-American music and African-American spirituals. Throughout the balance of the holiday weekend, composers from around the world including; Italy, Germany, Austria and France will be blended with American composers expressing the rich tapestry of classical music available to listeners today.

About WCPE: With a 28-year history, WCPE is a non-commercial, 100 percent listener-supported, independent station dedicated to excellence in Great Classical Music 24 Hours a Day. Community-minded business underwriters and foundations are among the 150,000 listeners in the North Carolina broadcast area. General Manager Deborah S. Proctor’s leadership has enabled the WCPE community to include national and worldwide listeners. Other radio stations and cable television systems can rebroadcast Great Classical Music, 24 Hours a Day. WCPE is one of the first public broadcasters to stream on the Internet. WCPE is heard worldwide on the Internet in multiple formats, including the next generation IPv6. Because WCPE receives no tax-derived support, the station conducts two on-air fundraising campaigns and two major mail-out campaigns per year to raise needed operating funds. Quarter Notes, the WCPE Program Guide, is published four times a year as a means to enhance appreciation and understanding of classical music. It is distributed to station supporters and is also available online at TheClassicalStation.org/guide. For more information, visit TheClassicalStation.Org or call 1-800-556-5178.