WRCJ Listeners answer the question "What is your favorite memory of classical or jazz music?"

Share Your Musical Memory Now 

I can still remember lying on the Turkish rug in my grandparents' living room listening to a copy of Mario Lanza singing "The Bluebird of Happiness," 78, of course!  I swear I wore it out.  I was perhaps 5 or 6 then; I'm 68 now!

Michael Madeleine

I was a thirteen year old spending a week in Manhattan with my single parent aunt who helped me with my education regarding cultural stuff.  We were in the Hayden Planetarium when I heard the morning movement from the Peer Gynt Suite, and I was hooked.  She told me what it was and that my cousin had a recording of it in his classical music recordings. On the weekends I spent with them, I would haul out his rceords and play them. Although I was exposed to many radio programs that used classical music for background and themes (Lone Ranger, Challenge of the Yukon, etc.), I was not "impressed" to know what they were.  Boy, all that changed after hearing Grieg!
Russ Banush 

I remember as a child during WW2 and later going to the Saturday movies. The music used during the cartoons at that time did not mean anything. Later as an adult I would hear the classical music on a local radio station and wonder where did I hear that before. Then, as I grew older I found out the who, what, when and where about that music. Also, when I became a teenager, WJR after school, there was Karl Hass, who gave a good interpertation of the various classical music items for the day. Finally, there was on Saturday morning TV a special program. That being Leonard Burnstein giving an education to the children at that time.   This overall gave me a basic education in the love of classical music.
Thomas Dombroski

My father was always supportive of my music. He always came to my concerts. He told me once, after hearing me play professionally that when he went to my first concert when I was in the 7th grade he was as proud of me as then. However, he added, "I never heard so much squeaking, squawking & squealling since I left the farm."
K'wame Robinson

One of my best memories: playing "J.D.'s (Jimmy Dorsey) Boogie Woogie" in 5th grade. My intro to jazz, and I love it to this day! Nancy Whitecar

My earliest memories of classical music were from my mother playing tapes of the 1812 Overture.  I also took classical ballet classes from second grade until senior year.  During those years my teacher often played the same pieces over and over for our exercises. 

I have always had a passion for classical music.  I am not a musician, but I love to listen to it.  I often get wrapped up into the artistry of it and details that I will tune out other things around me.  It is hard to pick a favorite but currently I've been listening to alot of Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. 

I absoulutely love 90.9.  I've become a member this year and am proud to be able to do that.  I listen to it with my young children in the hopes that some day they will appreciate the classics.  Heather Schueler (Chiropractor, Mom and Music lover)

Humorous- I think :-) I was in my dorm in college, doing some homework with Tchaikovsy's 6th on. In the 1st mov't where it gets real quiet, and only the bassoon is left, a friend came to the door & stood there while we talked a minute.  I inched the volume up on the stereo in anticipation of the fortissimo re-entrance of the orchestra.  Bang! Jump! He nearly jumped out of his skin.  I achieved the desired effect and had a bit of a laugh at his expense.  The recording: Philadelphia Orch, Ormandy conducting.  Dave Wagner

I remember being introduced to classical music by my friend, Ellen, who took piano lessons and lived across the alley!!  We went to the Symphony on Thursday nights and got seats in the nose-bleed section!! What a thrill!  Then we sang with the Rackham Symphony Choir and did the Verdi Requiem with Leontine Price!!  Be still my heart!  Mary Lou, 90.9 FM fan

 I remember the first record I bought.  It was at Doubleday's store in the Penobscot building. I was in high school and my girlfriend and I went into a booth, donned headphones and played the record.  It was Pictures at an Exhibition - it blew me away.  I was so thrilled and it remains way up there on my chart!  The other record that I bought that day was Ravel's Bolero - I use that music whenever I have something I have to do but am reluctant. I start slowly with Ravel and end up finishing with a flourish! It's great "scrubbing floor" music!  Ellen W, Redford

My favorite memory as a child was Brunch with Bach at the DIA with my Mother.  We would go to church on Sundays and then go to the DIA and listen some of the most beautiful music that I had ever heard. I am now sharing that experience with my own daughter.  Elaine H, Wyandotte

 

Although we always had music in our home, my first memory of classical music was as a pre-teenager, when my parents would take me to the State Fairgrounds where the Detroit Symphony used to play open air free concerts.  The conductor was Walter Poole.  That really got me hooked and I became a serious lover (and player) of classical music ever since.  Ron Horwitz

At thirteen, I bought my first "real record", that is an LP album rather than a 45. Tchaikovsky. The 1812 Overture on one side and Capriccio Italien on the other. Antal Dorati and the DSO with Deems Taylor talking about how the recording, including the sounds of carillons and cannons, was made. It was and is one of my favorites.  The second record I bought was Henry Mancini's "The Music from Peter Gunn". So I started out with musical interests that are a perfect fit with today's WRCJ. Thank you all for the best radio I have found anywhere. It was a treat a week or two back on DSO Unmasked, to hear that same Tchaikovsky recording discussed.  Mark Lough

After watching an episode of "Inspector Morse" I went out and bought a CD of Maria Callas singing excerpts from "Carmen."  This was about the time that the MOT announced that they would be featuring "Carmen" for the fall season.  I played the music often while my pre-school aged son and I were in the kitchen.  I explained to him that this music was from the opera that Mama&Papa were soon going to see.  His entusiasm for the famous aria that Escamillo sings was a joy to behold.  He would wave his blankie around and sing his own words to the song!  It is now several years since these kitchen performances, but that aria still inspires and captivates him. He is looking forward to the spring performance of "Carmen" at the Opera House.  I am very grateful to "Inspector Morse" for his love of Maria Callas that inspired me to get this recording.  I'm sure my son is grateful as well.  Rita Gerstheimer-Seubert

One of my first classical LP's was a recording of some of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas.  Whenever I hear them now, it brings back memories of that time and place.  Noel Brown

My sixth grade music teacher played Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite for us and told us to draw a picture of what we heard.  I was so excited by the connection of sound and image that I ran home to tell my parents.  I still have the record they bought me.   Anonymous

We are happy to have a good classical station in Detroit again. The talents and skill of Dave Wagner and other old friends from the past -  it's great to have them back.  Thank you for the Classical music.  Good to have it once more.  Carolyn Thibideau