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.
Suggested by Susan in Beavercreek, Oregon
Suggested by Marcia in Portland, Oregon
This was how I first discovered and fell in love with Luciano Pavarotti's voice. It was on his classic Christmas CD "O Holy Night," recorded in Montreal in 1976. It has lost none of its charm for me, and every Christmas I fall in love all over again. May he rest in heavenly peace.
Suggested by David in Portland, Oregon
Each year at this time I long to hear this choral piece by Edward Elgar and his wife, Alice, who wrote the lyrics. And each year I submit this as a suggestion for a 5 o'clock favorite. :) It seems particularly appropriate this year!
Suggested by Jayne in Gleneden Beach, Oregon
Today is my 75th birthday, and I'd love to hear Christmas music — or should I say “Christa-mas” music — by the Canadian Brass!
Suggested by Vicki in Hubbard, Oregon
I’ve heard so many different versions of this song and read about the (supposed) origin of it. I find the history of it fascinating (King Herod’s attempt to kill all infant boys following the birth of Jesus) and the fact that the composer is unknown. And the lyrics are strange. Not the typical Christmas carol. But I love the haunting melody and look forward to hearing it at this time of the year.
Suggested by Ian in Portland, Oregon
I think his music is just so amazing at conveying emotions. Love, nostalgia, childlike wonder, heroic resolve, and many more, all come through so strongly for me.
And although he is most known for his work with Studio Ghibli, one of my favorite pieces of his is from a live action movie named Kikujiro, which I first saw long before I even knew about Studio Ghibli or even who had written it. I am a huge fan of the Ghibli movies and hearing songs from them on Thursdays @ Three and The Score has been a joy. I hope this brings everyone the carefree joys of a childhood summer well spent, even if just for a few short minutes.
(By the way, thanks for everything you all do over there, it makes my days light and my work easy!)
Suggested by Jasper in Atlanta, Georgia
For me no other piece of music captures the sacredness of the birth of the Christ child than this piece. The animals kneel before the manager in adoration. I have sung this piece many times in choral settings and every time the beauty and haunting melody brings me to tears. It touches my soul like no other Christmas classical piece can.
Suggested by JoAnn in Vancouver, Washington
This is my favorite song for the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. In it, I hear a story of weariness and grief perfectly balanced with enduring optimism. Every time I hear it, I'm humbled to remember that season is, among other things, a celebration of the hope of freedom for an oppressed people.
Suggested by Sue in Portland, Oregon
For several years, my husband and I attended the New Year’s Eve performance of Carmina Burana. Both the performers, and many in audience, were dressed in sparkly gem tones. A beautiful sight with wonderful music! I miss that annual event...
Suggested by Maria in West Linn, Oregon
I recently had a small heart procedure, and hearing this would help me get back on my feet! This piece provided my first real appreciation of the clarinet. It was also the piece my clarinet-playing daughter chose for her first ever solo performance when she was in 6th grade.
Suggested by Jean in Portland, Oregon
This is beyond soothing! The YouTube video of this song demonstrates how much passion is being presented by both the Brooklyn Duo and the Dover Quartet. Together, they produce something that touches the soul, with an enormous respect for classical music.
Suggested by Linda in Milwaukie, Oregon
Today, December 9, our cockatiel, Apollo, is celebrating his 16th birthday. His claim to fame is being able to whistle the Colonel Bogey March. When he hears it on the radio, he gets so happy, and whistles along. I'm hoping you will play it in honor of Apollo!
Suggested by Ralph in Salem, Oregon
It's one of my favorite pieces!
Suggested by Scarlet in Portland, Oregon
In my 55 years, I have never tired of this piece.
Suggested by Wira in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
I have been listening to All Classical Portland's online stream, enjoying the beautiful music from Sydney, Australia. It has been giving me so much pleasure in these challenging times. I hope this song will boost everyone's morale.
Suggested by Derek in Portland, Oregon
I had no idea that a person named Johan de Meij even existed before my band teacher recommended this piece. I love it because it has a catchy tune, great composition, and dynamic changes and drive.
Suggested by Peter in McMinnville, Oregon
This selection is connected for me with a momentous (and somber) historical event and my experience of it.
It was late November 1963, and I was a college student spending my junior year abroad in Vienna. Being an avid fan of opera, very much including the works of Richard Wagner, I went to performances of the Vienna State Opera whenever I could. On this particular night, I was at a performance of Die Walküre. In the final scene of the (long) opera, as a punishment for disobeying his command, Wotan puts his beloved daughter, the Valkyrie Brünnhilde, into a deep sleep and places her on a mossy bank. He summons Loge, the god of fire, pointing his spear toward a large rock. He strikes the rock three times with his spear, and flames spring from the rock, fire gradually spreading around the bank with the sleeping Brünnhilde. Wotan proclaims that no one who fears the point of his spear shall ever pass through the fire. As the familiar Magic Fire Music plays, Wotan takes one fond last look at the sleeping Valkyrie and disappears into the fire as the music continues to its conclusion, ending the opera.
On this night, as the last note of the Magic Fire Music ended, before there was any chance for applause, a suited official stepped quickly from behind the curtain and motioned for silence. "It is with great sadness that I must inform you," he said (or words to that effect), "that John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, is dead."
In shock, the audience dispersed in silence. Outside the theatre, the newsboys selling any of Vienna's three newspapers were swamped. I bought a copy of one of the papers and in a new shock--and now disbelief--read the headline: "Kennedy Dead. Fell victim of an assassination." Assassination?!!!
I hurried home to my "digs" and tuned my radio to the Voice of America, which of course was covering nothing else. I didn't know any other Americans in Vienna, but I sure wished I did right then. The closest I came was to go to the American embassy, where I arrived around midnight and signed a condolence book, behind which stood a U.S. marine in full-dress uniform.
Suggested by Anneliese in Hunstville, Alabama
In my favorite novel, Firebird by Kathy Tyers. there is a city was called Tallis, named for the composer. That's how I first discovered this piece. Later, I and my co-author, Galadriel Coffeen, listened to this music while writing our debut novel, Jubilant... and we listened so often it became associated with the female lead character, Kelta. Our book was published today, and we think it would be fantastic to have this piece played to celebrate its inspiring power. I’m really excited to share this musical part of our creative process, especially since I’ve been listening to AllClassical for almost 20 years…
Suggested by Nate in Portland, Oregon
If ever there was a piece of music that can evoke so many images at once it has to be this. I’ve loved this music all my life and since I work nights the moonlight has been my sunlight.
Suggested by Larry in Oak Grove, and Sandi in Portland
Larry says: Though much of the music by the Croatian duo 2cellos doesn't fit with your format (see them do AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" or Jimi Hendrix... they do things with the cello which may be downright unnatural!) their interpretation of the Benedictus by Karl Jenkins is soaring and will uplift you. It lifts me so far above the mundane you wonder how it could ever have been written. It may make you cry or at least tear up. In about 7 minutes the closest to heaven you can get while seated in your recliner.
Sandi says: I have taken up the cello again after a 30 year break and after looking up music to begin my journey once more, discovered this ethereal piece played by 2 amazing men. It has fueled my passion for the cello all over again!
In the olden days one of the things we used to hear regularly in the Christmas season was the de Beers diamonds theme, the Ist Movement from the Jenkins Palladio. Jenkins based this wonderful, structural piece on the work of Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Oh, arcades of arches, soaring columns, loggias in the sunlight! Even though what we now know about the diamonds market puts a bit of impossible tarnish on the de Beers slogan, Diamond Music still is forever. :)