Midday Music with Peter Whorf – 10a-3p Weekdays
Peter Whorf, who holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music, has a distinguished career in classical music broadcasting, both as a manager and on-air host. “I’m thrilled and grateful for this opportunity to return to my home town and engage in the Detroit area’s rich classical music community as a member of the WRCJ-FM team,” said Whorf. “I look forward to joining my new colleagues in presenting great music and producing innovative programming to serve our audience at the highest possible level. Most of all, I’m eager to create meaningful relationships with WRCJ listeners as we journey together through a world of classical music discovery.”
View Playlists for Midday Music.
On 2/25/20 – approx. 3:15PM your time (I’m in Calif.), you played a piece called “Calvary” played by the Czeck Philharmonic Orchestra. It was hard to understand the name of the composer. A very dramatic work! Could you please provide me with the name of the composer.
thank you.
Sure Barbara, that was Otakar Ostrcil’s Variations for Large Orchestra, Op. 24 (“Calvary”) performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra led by Vaclav Neumann.
Please give me the name of the piece played on 12/24 mid-afternoon by a composer you named as John Lawther. It was a massive, impressive work, which I would liken to an Oratorio – ending with a long organ chord. I think the choir was English Cambridge Choir.
Hello Barbara, we didn’t see a composer by that name but around that time we did have The Cambridge Singers and Orchestra performing “Rise up, shepherds, and follow” and “The Christmas Song” (arranged and conducted by John Rutter). Was it that one?
Peter,
Wow! Didn’t realize that you were a fan of Wendy Carlos (formerly Walter). I still have my original vinyl copy of “Switched on Bach” that I purchased in 1970. Also bought a Quadrophonic copy.
I’m not used to hearing it on the radio though. Thanks for playing it!
You’re welcome. Today is Wendy’s birthday!
8/22/2019. Today just around noon, I was listening to your show and a very short piece was played but I don’t think was identified…right after bird notes. Do you happen to know what it was?
Hello Susan, that sounds like the piece another listener was asking about. Andrew Sparrow’s “Chiaroscuro Suite: Second Movement: Abriana’s Waltz” performed by the Czech Film Orchestra, conducted by Marek Valasek from this disc: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2107214
Was there a short piece between “Syrinx” and “Wellington’s Victory” today? If so, what was it?
Hello Indianapolis listener, that was Andrew Sparrow’s “Chiaroscuro Suite: Second Movement: Abriana’s Waltz” performed by the Czech Film Orchestra, conducted by Marek Valasek from this disc: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2107214
A very warm welcome to you, Peter! I know my brother, Chris, would be delighted to see the direction you will take the midday offering. I wish you all the best, and know that good things are around the corner. How fortunate are the listeners in the Detroit area to have the talent and commitment from the WRCJ family to bring great music into their lives each day.
Thank you so much Paul for the kind welcome to our newest addition!
Wonderful debut for Peter Whorf. Used to listen to his Dad, Mike. I just may start contributing again.
Thank you Shirley.
I’ll just reiterate some of the comments from previous writers. Mr. Felcyn’s passing makes me sad. For a long time I listened to Jurgen Goth. He and Chris had similar senses of humor. I still listen to the station when I can. I really like classical music
Thank you Jack. Chris was a fan of Goth’s as well and did a tribute show when he passed.
I was a Michigan resident and WRCJ listener for many years, and even continued listening when I moved out of state. Schedules shifted and I wasn’t able to listen to the Well-Tempered Wireless as often–I only learned today of Chris’ passing. His program was a highlight of my day and I’ll greatly miss him. Sincere condolences to his family and everyone at WRCJ.
Hello John, we appreciate you sticking with the station. We’re very sorry about the unfortunate news about Chris. Thank you for the condolences.
Hello, C # & company @ WRCJ! I have a personal favorite as a successor for the beloved Chris Felcyn & she’s broadcasting right now. But we’ve had a succession of good guest hosts, including the legendary Carl Grapentine late of WFMT. (During my Chicago sojourn of the late 70s & early 80s I depended on WFMT…I even once got to meet Studs Terkal!) After Detroit lost WQRS & WJZZ & with the format changes of WDET & Radio 2 across the river, I was so bereft. That is why I am a sustaining member to this day. Peace, Dan
Thank you Dan, we are doing our best to fill the void and your support helps keep us going!
We all miss Chris. God bless him. Today the guest host was Dave Assemany..
…Hire him!!
Thank you Robert. Yes, Dave did a fine job today!
Chris, Chris, Chris,
My heart is aching. You were/still are and will be a light in our lives. Peace and congratulations on reunion with Annie.
L&T
Chris was part of my daily routine. I was very glad when his air time started at 10:00 AM.
I always enjoyed his slightly acerbic sense of humor, and always telling it like it was.
There are so few people in the media that know and enjoy presenting classical music.
I go back to the WQRS days, and would always enjoy Karl Haas’ adventures in good music.
Truly the passing of an icon, we are diminished. RIP my friend.
So sorry to hear of Mr. Felcyn’s passing! His wonderful, warm voice and clever wit will be missed by me and thousands of Metro Detroiters!
I am also saddened to hear of his passing. His knowledge of classical music and wit are going to be missed on the airwaves.
Wow! Bob Seeley is the greatest. He played on one of our live morning shows on TV2 years ago and gave a cassette to one of my colleagues. He loaned it to me and I made a copy. His St. Louis Blues March is tops. A few years ago traveling along Lake Seeley in Montana we were listening to his music. Wonderful!
Wow, listening to Bob Seeley on Lake Seeley. That sounds like a good time. We hope you make it back again soon.
Thought you might like to know that Nielson Ratings called today with their questions. I told them I have not watched t.v. in five years and the only sound in my house is 90.9 F.M. They said”oh that station is going to do backflips because you represent thousands of people in your area.” Cool
Ha ha awesome! Thank you Roberta for the thousands of listeners!
Hello Chris!
I love your program and when I drive anywhere, WRCJ is my favourite station!
I have a question: Did I get the date wrong? I thought I heard you say you would be interviewing Stephen Hough at 1:00 p.m. on Friday the 17th. So I wrote it down on my calendar and I’m now listening to some beautiful music, but no interview. Did I miss it? or did I write down the wrong date?
Hello Claire, unfortunately that was on the 16th however, you can still listen to the interview here:
https://soundcloud.com/wrcj909fmhd1/tracks
Enjoy!
I enjoyed hearing you and Judy Adams together again. This inspired my donation to WRCJ today. I have been a fan of Judy Adams since the Morphogenesis days. Thank you for providing my afternoon sound track.
No problem Brian, thanks for the financial support!
Heard you announce selections by George Antheil the last couple days. He put out a great autobiography entitled “Bad Boy of Music”, which includes the account of his time in Hollywood as a composer
but did you know he was also an inventor, sharing a patent with Hedy Kiesler Markey for radio communications “to provide a method of secret communication which is relatively simple and reliable in operation, but at the same time is difficult to discover or decipher” … for remote control of things like torpedoes? Came in really handy after its issuance June 10, 1941. Oh, and Ms. Karkey was better known as Hedy Lamarr.
Don’t stop the music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Craig, no we didn’t know that. That book may be of interest to our Film buff Jack Goggin. (Who by the way just added that Antheil cd to our music library)
Really enjoyed today’s 5-hour journey through the annals of classical music; what a feat for Mr. Felcyn, the boffins, and staff, and what a treat for people wanting a comprehensive overview of the fabulous content one hears every day on this radio station! Kudos to all who made this celebration of musical art possible for listeners, and a sincere Thank You from this one listener!
Hi Tamara, great! We’re glad you really liked it! Thanks for the kind words.
Could you please tell me the name and artist who performed a song on your show on Wednesday, 9-20-17, at 3:10pm. I believe he was playing a concertina. The song was charming. Thank you for your time and consideration with this song. Take care, Sue
Hello Susan, we had a harp sonata at 3:10 so maybe it was the piece a little before that called Antonia which featured an accordion which may have sounded like a concertina. Here is a link to that cd: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Playlist?source=WRCJ&date=201709201500
Thank you so much!!!! The link you sent me was the right one!!! Your music in the afternoon just fills my soul! Take care.
Whoa! I’m loving the Shostakovich #15.
Thanks for playing the deep cuts from beyond the normal (for me) canon.
I’m a computer programmer in Madison WI who listens out of fondness for my hometown.
Thanks for all you do 🙂
Hi Evan, glad you like it. Thanks for listening all the way from Wisconsin!