A Bartels’ Classical Christmas Children’s Special

Editor’s Note: Dennis Bartel and his children celebrate Christmas with music from around the world. Here is DJ’s background on the program.

Starting my third time around with KUSC, 2007, I produced an annual Christmastime radio program for kids with music and informative Christmas lore from many countries. In this Christmas Special, we travel from America to the British Isles, from Poland to the Czech Republic, playing native Christmas music from those lands and others – Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Nigeria, from the past (Purcell, Bach, Handel) to the recent (Kasimir Serocky), from the antique (Charles Ives) to the present (Judith Bingham), from yesterday (Peter Maxwell Davies) to the timeless traditional. It’s an hour of music and fun for kids, and featuring kids, ours. We hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas. Dennis

Part One – 30:24

 

Part Two – 28:20

 

For more Christmas fare, check out The Nutcracker – Dark Spirits in the Christmas Lights, DJ’s annual Christmas downer which illustrates how the truth can puncture even the most joyous holiday myths. Click here.

 


Classical Dogs – 53:51

Based on DJB’s study of dogs owned or known by or included in the work of the Great Composers, featuring music by Elgar, Gershwin, Janacek, Faure and others. For Dennis’ original study, in written form, click here: Classical Dogs (PDF will open in a new browser tab).

 


A Child’s Easter in Sound

DJB & his four children summon up the sounds of Easter, including the sound of an African sunrise, a grasshopper dancing, a donkey traversing down the Grand Canyon, sheep grazing with a variety of shepherds (Eugene Ormandy, Emma Kirby, Christopher Parkening and Eugene Goosens), a pecking hen, an ascending lark, and The Runaway Bunny, a Concerto by Glen Roven, with text by Margaret Wise Brown, read by Brooke Shields. 

Part One – 30:53

 

Part Two – 28:05