The Five O’Clock Favorite is driven by listener suggestions! We’d love your participation. Due to the interest in the program, it may be a week or two before you hear your selection on-air.
Suggestions are easiest to honor if they’re 20 minutes or less.
The Five O’Clock Favorite is brought to you by Alchemy Jewelers
Suggested by Elizabeth in Portland
Suggested by Jace in Vancouver, Washington
"This collection of melodies makes me feel very nostalgic, as these are some of the first classical tunes I've ever heard. I know it's not as well known as some of his other works, but this particular piece brings me personal joy and happiness."
Suggested by Tom in Auburn, AL (visiting Stafford, OR)
"I find this music to be such an interesting combination of relaxing and cheerful..."
Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon
"This beautiful music soothes my soul."
Suggested by Katie in Canby, Oregon
"I am 13 years old, and next to the music of the 40's, 50's, and 60's, classical music is my favorite! Claude Debussy is probably my favorite composer; I love everything from his Claire de lune to his Children's Corner Suite. But recently, I discovered this piece of his, and I love it the most out of all of his works. I hope that everyone enjoys this masterpiece as much as I do!"
Suggested by Ella in Portland, Oregon
"This piece found me while I was in a horrible place. It gave me hope and healed my wounds. I want to give this gift to you and everyone else."
Suggested by Elaine in Beaverton, Oregon
"I took music appreciation in college and was assigned music by Webern. I think this piece is beautiful and fits with the mood of the 5:00 Favorite."
Suggested by Connie in Hillsboro, Oregon
"The Rodney Eichenberger Choral Conducting Workshops have been held each summer at Cannon Beach and Seaside, Oregon, for over 30 years, although this year's workshop was cancelled due to the pandemic. I've been blessed to be a participant in many of them. Each afternoon after the day's session, I would walk on the beach near Haystack Rock, and on one of these strolls a few years back, I ran into Carol Rich, our long-time accompanist. She shared that while looking out at the beautiful view, she was "playing the Bach 'Concerto for Two Violins' in her head." Just as the first violin began the melody in the Largo, a seagull took off, in a beautiful arc floating on the ocean breeze. Then, at exactly the right moment, a second gull soared up toward the first, perfectly timed. As she described it, I could picture it perfectly, and I envision it again through Carol's eyes whenever I hear this beautiful movement."
Suggested by Adrian in Portland, Oregon
"This is an absolutely gorgeous piece of music that sounds to me like a mix of both raw grief and pure hope, which makes it a fitting piece for these times."
Suggested by Jeff in Portland, Oregon
"This is a peaceful meditative composition cautions our lives not to be transient like the falling, melting snow. For me, it's one of those 'go to' pieces when I need comfort."
Suggested by David in Newberg, Oregon
"When I was in junior high school, my best friend's mother, Mrs. Winifred Clark, was the organist at our church in National City, California. One glorious Sunday morning she played this Fugue by Buxtehude for the recessional. It was as if heaven broke loose. I stood transfixed in the aisle listening to what I thought must be one of the most wonderful pieces of music ever composed. She played it on the pipe organ with gusto, filling the church and my heart with wonder."
Suggested by Kristin in Aurora, Oregon
"I grew up in a musical family. My mother had a beautiful contralto. My father got started with music as a solo boy soprano. His tenor remained sweet and strong right up to his death at age 93. All of us sang. I was introduced to opera at a young age and can still remember as a grade schooler when my mother first played a record of Leontyne Price for me, and we both wept at the sheer beauty of that voice. I am constantly struck by how music has the power to connect us to memories that we might otherwise forget. Der Rosenkavalier was one of my mother's favorite operas, and the final trio is so transporting, it could bring us both to our knees. I still can't hear it without remembering the expression on my mother's face when she listened to it. My favorite recording features Elizabeth Schwarzkopf as the Marshallin."
Suggested by Pie in Portland, Oregon
"Very beautiful. This reminds me of Christmastime... and an opportunity to reflect on peaceful thoughts."
Suggested by Matthew in Portland, Oregon
"These two pieces get me every time, even after years of listening! I picked the CD up on a lark for 75 cents and was immediately enchanted from the first listen. It was my gateway to Eleni Karaindrou and the films of Theo Angelopolous. I find it to be exquisitely haunting, comforting, and slyly uplifting. In a word: beautiful."
Suggested by Joseph in Portland, Oregon
"The first LP my husband James gave me was a selection of pieces by Eric Satie. My LP long ago disappeared, but that particular pieces still lingers in my mind. The Gymnopedies are peaceful and absolutely gorgeous... they are an ear worm that once you hear it you can't get it out of your head for days! (By the way we've been together for 47 years and are still madly in love at ages 80 and 88! We love the music on All Classical and always have your show on in afternoons.)
Suggested by Megan in Tigard, Oregon
"I had the privilege of performing Beethoven's Missa Solemnis here in Portland in 2008, under the direction of Roger O. Doyle. It was my second season of performing with the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland, a choir that I still perform with today, along with now serving as their assistant director. I credit Dr. Doyle's passion for great music and sharing it with others for fueling my own passion as a music director, and his excitement over finally being able to direct the Missa Solemnis after dreaming of it for his whole career was palpable and contagious.
The Missa Solemnis is filled to the brim with dramatic moments and challenging passages, and performing the work requires a tremendous amount of stamina from all the musicians involved. So, to me, arriving at the Benedictus felt like Beethoven was allowing the audience AND musicians to take a collective deep breath while the beauty and emotion that he could so effectively evoke through his music washed over us all. This movement features a solo violin, an unusual element in a Mass, but heart-achingly effective at weaving together the orchestra, soloists, and chorus.
Every time I hear this, I get tears in my eyes and am filled with gratitude that Dr. Doyle's dream became an unforgettable reality for so many of us."
Suggested by Julia in Yuma, Arizona
"This is such a wonderfully stately piece by the very prolific composer, Georg Phillip Telemann! I believe this celebrates the thriving port of Hamburg. It would be a fine selection for the five o'clock favorite. May the soothing waters of the River Elbe bring us peace and healing at this time!"
Suggested by Kathryn in Vancouver, Washington
"This is my favorite of the many fabulous Rachmaninoff preludes because it feels like something direct from heaven. It's very difficult to play; I'm a pianist and have played other Rachmaninoff preludes, but not this one. But it doesn't sound difficult because it is so serene."
Suggested by John in Lake Oswego, Oregon
"The Benedictus is a very beautiful, reverent piece of music sung by a trio of voices: soprano, tenor, and baritone. In 1992 I was chosen to sing the baritone part with my church choir. This piece makes me think of my beautiful, late wife, Betty, who often sang soprano solos with our church choir, too."
Suggested by Coleman in Portland, Oregon
"I am a pianist who particularly enjoys listening to Baroque music. There are some wonderful Baroque organ pieces that were arranged for piano in the 1800s, which I think surpass the originals. BWV 543 is one such piece."
"This piece always makes me think of a snow covered forest and feels like a meditation."