Public radio stations don't go all-Christmas, all the time: They tend to save their specials for the days before and after Christmas and Hanukkah. Here's a list of holiday programming on local stations:
Classical WQED-FM (89.3) programming explores a range of classical and sacred holiday music.
"Sunday Baroque" -- Seasonal music, including portions of George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus" (today, 8 a.m. to noon).
"A Taste of Chanukah" -- Theodore Bikel hosts this holiday concert, featuring musicians from the New England Conservatory and Boston Community Choir (today, 7 to 8 p.m.).
Handel's Messiah -- Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Mendelssohn Choir, hosted by Jim Cunningham from Heinz Hall (today, 8 to 10 p.m.).
"Pipedreams" -- Holiday music on the pipe organ (today, 10 to 11:30 p.m.).
"Ring, Christmas Bells" -- Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra (today, 11:30 p.m. to midnight).
"Exploring Music" -- Highlights Bach's Christmas Oratorio (Monday through Friday, 10 to 11 p.m.).
"Music for the Festival of Lights" -- Seasonal Jewish music is featured nightly (Monday through Sunday).
"Nutcracker Suite" -- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Tuesday, 8 to 10 p.m.).
"Nine Lessons and Carols" -- Live from Kings College in Cambridge, England (Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon).
"Welcome Christmas" -- Carol performance by Vocal Essence (Wednesday, 6 to 7 p.m.).
"St. Olaf Christmas Festival" (Wednesday, 7 to 9 p.m.).
"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" -- The classic Christmas poem is retold in story and song (Wednesday, 9 to 10 p.m.).
"A Christmas Memory" -- Truman Capote reads his holiday classic (Wednesday, 11 p.m. to midnight).
"On Yoolis Night" -- Anonymous 4 (Thursday at midnight).
"Choirs & Carols" -- Performers include Trio Medieval, the Riga Dom Boys Choir, Finland's YL Choir and the Pittsburgh Brass (Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m.).
"PSO Holiday Pops" -- With conductor Robert Bernhardt (Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m.).
Handel's Messiah -- Repeat of PSO performance (Thursday, 8 to 10 p.m.).
"Echoes of Christmas" -- Dale Warland Singers (Thursday, 11 p.m. to midnight).
"Harmonia" -- Baroque Christmas music (next Sunday, 7 to 8 a.m.).
"Chanukah in Story and Song" -- With Leonard Nimoy and the Western Wind (next Sunday, 7 to 8 p.m.).
Jazz/NPR WDUQ-FM (90.5) airs a mix of annual music traditions.
"Choirs & Carols: An NPR Christmas" -- holiday music from around the world, including a performance by the Pittsburgh Brass (today, 6 to 7 p.m.).
"Paul Winter Solstice Concert" -- Winter's annual concert from New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine (today, 9 to 11 p.m.).
"Kevin Gavin's Annual Holiday Request Show" (Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon).
"Tinsel Tales: NPR Christmas Favorites" -- Stories from NPR's archives, including tales from David Sedaris, Bailey White and others (Wednesday, 1 to 2 p.m.).
"Hanukkah Lights 2008" -- NPR show exploring Hanukkah traditions (Wednesday, 2 to 3 p.m.).
"Jonathan Winter's 'A Christmas Carol' " -- Winters reads the Dickens classic (Wednesday, 7 to 8 p.m.).
"Jazz Piano Christmas 19" -- Hosted by NPR's Felix Contreas, with performances by Eliane Elias, Arturo O'Farrill, Rebeca Mauleon and Ellis Marsalis (Thursday, 9 to 10 a.m.).
WYEP-FM's (91.3) staff produced specials looking at 2008 in music.
"WYEP Year In Review Top 50 Countdown" -- Rosemary Welsch hosts a four-hour countdown of the station's top 50 releases for 2008 (Wednesday, 8 p.m. to midnight, with re-broadcasts on Friday, midnight to 4 a.m., and 2 to 6 p.m.; Dec. 31, 8 p.m. to midnight; Jan. 1, 2 to 6 p.m.).
"Pittsburgh 250 Music Tribute" -- Tripp Clarke hosts a tribute to Pittsburgh music, from Stephen Foster to contemporary artists like Billy Price, The Cynics, and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers (next Sunday, 5 to 7 a.m., re-broadcast 5 to 7 p.m.).
First Published: December 21, 2008, 5:00 a.m.
