Welcome to Classical Pacific for Wednesday, June 21, 2017 on HPR 2. I’m your host, John Zak. Well, we made it to the middle of the week! Hump Day! From the traffic situation here on O’ahu, it feels like the summer season is here. So, if you’re stuck in your car, you know two places you can go for peace, comfort and information: HPR 1 and 2! I am also happy to report that you have been hearing us with regard to the new FREE HPR app. Our downloads have been up lately, and the reviews are really super. I use it, myself, all the time. If you want to to be able to share HPR's music, news, and information shows with others at the beach or on the lanai, just pair your device with a portable bluetooth speaker and you are good to go.
I should also mention that, yesterday, there were some technical issues from our software that prevented us from sharing playlists during part of the day. Hopefully, by today, that issue will have been cleared up. Fingers crossed!
Today we’re going to feature music of Mozart and Haydn. We’ll hear the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under the direction of Nicholas Harnoncourt performing Mozart’s Symphonies 38 and 39. We’ll also hear conductor, Leif Ove Andsnes on piano and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra performing several piano concertos by Haydn. We will also share some fascinating pieces from China, a country that has one of the richest and most diverse musical traditions in human history. We will hear several Chinese Folk melodies performed by China's Central Broadcasting Folk Orchestra, and some dance melodies performed by the Shanghai Symphony. Did you have the opportunity to see the first installment of "The History of China" on PBS Hawaii last night? It is a spectacular series hosted by Michael Wood, who has produced and hosted many epic historical series. I recommend this highly. Check PBS Hawaii's website for show times and on demand viewing options. Classical Pacific will continue its commitment to bringing you interesting and meaningful musical experiences from our Pacific region neighbors.
So, here’s a question and it’s not rhetorical one: What does music mean to you in your life? How and when to you listen to music? And, most important, how does it make you feel? If you have some comments about this, please let me know. Send me an email through our HPR website. I might read some of the comments on the air and I would be quite interested to hear what you have to say!
As I mentioned some time ago, I am still looking for high-quality choral music from across Polynesia, particularly, S?moa and Tonga, and Maori music, as well. If you have access to that music and would be willing to share or to put me in contact with someone who might be able to assist in that regard, please let me know via e mail on this website or feel free to call the station (808) 955-8821 and leave me a message. And while we’re on the subject, what music from the Pacific region would you like to hear? Would you be interested in hearing more World Music? Any artists you especially love? Let me know!
Be sure to visit the Classical Pacific page on HPR’s website to listen to the podcast of my conversation with André Watts and Iggy Jang. If you have keiki in your life, to whom you want to introduce classical music, you will find this conversation especially interesting!
Classical Pacific began in February, 2017, as a result of Hawaii Public Radio’s ongoing commitment to give listeners across Hawaii and around the world more of what they love, on two networks: HPR 1 and HPR 2. Airing five days a week at 3 P.M. Hawaii time, the series features the finest of the world’s classical music, while also shining a spotlight on orchestras, artists, and composers of the Pacific region, including Polynesia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, The U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. We’ll also add spice with indigenous and World music that is creating new musical languages and collaborations worldwide.
Classical Pacific and all Hawaii Public Radio programs are available online at our website: hawaiipublicradio.org. You can also download the free app for your mobile device and take HPR with you whenever and wherever you travel! Just type H - P - R in the search box of your App. store!
