The Morning Show 6-10a Monday – Friday
Dr. Dave’s Drive Time Elixir 3-7p Monday – Friday
WRCJ’s Program Director, Dr. Dave Wagner, is a lifelong Detroiter and well-known as an organist, pianist and music educator. He brings his vast musical knowledge and wry sense of humor to our morning airwaves with traffic and weather updates and his famous 7:15a “Sousalarm.” He returns weekday afternoons to ease your drive home with a mix of lighter classics and orchestrated popular tunes.
Hi Dave, Jack, Charles Greenwell and all the other folks at RCJ.
A little remembrance, question and suggestion for you as 2021 Fall Fundraising takes place…
Did anyone record Dave’s final sign-off when QRS suffered its very untimely demise? I was working late, alone in my office at Troy High School, knowing what was coming and wondering how Dave would manage those last few minutes of Classical Music before the format change took place.
As I recall, this happened at 5 p.m. Dave was his always-on professional self as he bade that final farewell to the QRS audience; the last Classical piece (I cannot remember what the music was, though I’ve heard Dave speak about it once or twice over the years) faded out and something by Nine-Inch-Nails thumped into the QRS airspace.
The emotions that I felt are easy to remember but almost impossible to describe. The whole thing was overwhelming…I’m stricken by the power of the event all these years later.
If anyone has a recording of those last few minutes it might be worth sharing with the RCJ audience. I’m sure I’m not the only one listening now who heard it. The point could be made that nothing is permanent in this world and that the things we value must be supported and protected. That’s all I have to say except for a very sincere THANK YOU to all the folks who work at and support WRCJ.
I cannot imagine life without it!
Hello Hess, yes that certainly was an… interesting transition. Not sure if a recording of it exists, but maybe someone out there has one. Our hosts sometimes mention that dark period when there wasn’t a classical music station in Detroit just as a reminder that we need to support what we have and not take it for granted. We appreciate the note.
Greetings prior to relocating to the Seattle area 25 yrs ago we were longtime listeners to WQRS.Fond memories of the great music and genial hosts. We remember well a live performance at which a slim young Dave W. wasnot only the MC but soloist on the harmonium playing Dvorak’s
Baggatell. Warmest regard, also not so young nor slim ex-Detroiter, Jack H.
PS. Was that the mid-1980’s?
Hi Jack, thank you for the note. We’ve done our best to collect the WQRS folks to keep it going in spirit. Dr. Dave still does some local organ performances. And don’t feel bad, not many of us are slim or young any more. Do you still listen online from Seattle? Here is the link if you haven’t tried it. https://www.wrcjfm.org/listen-live/
A brass-only rendition of Romanian Rhapsody this morning? Who knew? Thank you, Empire Brass! Gosh, what an arrangement. Just. Brilliant.
I had no idea I shared a birthday with Enescu — a terrific present to hear this piece and to learn of this!
Thanks for always bringing fresh takes along with the traditional classics; I totally love you folks. Best regards to all.
Thank you and happy birthday Michael!
Good morning Dave,
I cannot find the playlist for yesterday’s (8/3/21) Exploring Music show and there was some interesting operetta being played 5 – 5:30am, my morning drive time.
Many thanks for bringing such a variety of good music to us.
Hi, yes we have that info, we’re going to email it to you because it’s a bit long.
Back in the days of WQRS there was a Friday night (I believe) event which was a broadcast of the “Odyssey “, which I believe was a production of the BBC. Can I get it somehow?
I worked solo in the Radioimmunoassay Lab in Nuclear Medicine at Beaumont Hospital and it made working alone on a Friday night absolutely more bearable !! I hope it’s still around, somehow! Please help me !!! (I believe Dr. Dave was the host.)
-Phred Wurtsmith, RT
Hi, while we borrowed some of the WQRS hosts we don’t have much in the way of WQRS archives or recordings. We looked around the internet but only found what looks like a recent BBC tv program called Odyssey or a single BBC radio program episode where the host discusses Homer’s Odyssey.
It was Dr. Dave’s show. Maybe he might remember?
Hi, Dave said it wasn’t him but suggested if it was a BBC show, could it have been on WUOM? They were playing classical music around that time.
Hey there. A few days back you played a rendition of ‘Laura’ and mentioned some artists that have done it. U forgot to mention ‘Spike Jones and his City Slickers’. That’s a fun one but I don’t think it best to play it during drive time. Perhaps the morning show, (that’ll wake up the senses.)
Oh, yes, overlooked that one. The sound effects would be a surprise but we might be able to get away with it.
Dave Wagner – Dr. Dave’s Drive Time Elixir – You played a spiritual sung by Leontyne Price at the beginning of your show today. What was the title of the spiritual, the album title, label and number? I was unable to locate a playlist on the station’s website for your program.
Hi Judy, around that time we played “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan and performed by Leontyne Price and the National Philharmonic Orchestra under Charles Gerhardt. It was on the RCA label, spine number 63895.
“Berkeley Square is pronounced “Barkeley.” A very funny English film contained the line, “I shot an arrow into the air; he fell to earth in Barkeley Square.”
Wow, I’ve hear the Hands Across the Sea march 3 times in the past few weeks now… and that is ok! I am digging that march! The loud bit after the trio (break strain? I don’t know, high school was a while ago and I don’t study musical form anymore) gets me every time.
Well at least it’s one you like! We’ll give that one a break for a bit.
“Overture” from “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (opera) by Mikhail Glinka played around 8:15 is the theme to the CBS show “Mom”. Love it! Thanks for playing that.
Indeed it is Brian! Anna Faris would be proud.
Hi Dave,
As a long time listener I have thoroughly enjoyed your insights, wit and musical knowledge.
As I listened to your comments about the original Water Music performance, your unique point of view made my mind wander – I could hear you mentioning the King invented a new piece of technology: the “Auto Repeat”, so he could press a button and listen to the music for hours and hours.
Thanks for your wonderful inspiration.
Stu
Well thank you Stu, we are always available to take your mind to far off places and to explore new thoughts!
I can’t express to all of the radio hosts at WRCJ enough how much being able to have access to WRCJ’s amazing music programming has been such an important part of my positive coping through the challenges of this past year’s pandemic. Having this be a consistent part of my day and life, when so many other things in the world have been turned upside down, has been very centering and soothing. Thank you for keeping the great music playing when so many other parts of life this past year have been stressful and so unpredictable! I am proud to support the station and I will certainly continue to do so!
Hi Michelle, it certainly has been an odd 12 months that none of us were expecting. We are happy to hear you are making it through and that we could help. Sometimes its nice to just close your eyes and listen to the pleasant, familiar music. Thank you for helping make that possible.
Alternative Lyrics to Morning Show tune, courtesy of Dr Dave and Peter Whorf, to be sung in four part harmony by Dave, Peter, Maxine, and Linda, that is if I had my druthers.
Black is the color of my CJ’s mug
Their classical is wondrous fair
Their pure jazz tunes
And the storied hands
I love the air on which they band
I love the grounds their studios stand
Blue is the color of our station’s hood
Of our public’s good
Are you in the mood?
Oh I love my app
And where’er I go
Yes, I love the bands on which they cast
And still I hope
The time is near
When performer’s strokes
An audience can hear
So black is the color of my CJ’s mug
High is the level of my music app
Blue is the color of my CJ bag.
That’s very nice Rodger! We’re not sure any of those hosts can actually sing though…
Dr Dave, What is the name of the Charles Ives March that was played by the Columbia Honors Band about 3:20pm on Thursday afternoon 18 March? -73, n7tws
Hi Larry, that was Charles Ives “Omega Lambda Chi” (March) performed by The Incredible Columbia All Star Band under Gunther Schuller.
Hi Dave, I need the proper name of a piece of music that I have heard played on WRCJ and your show many times. It is a song that my husband and I have sung in our choral group many years ago and I want sung at his funeral mass. The piece has two names. One proper or original name and one that has Appalachia in it. If you call me I can sing part of it for you. Part of it has “coming home, coming home, I am coming home.”
I have left left phone messages but no return call. Thank you for helping me on this. My husband and I have always loved this song and I think it is so appropriate for a funeral mass. Thank you so much.
Hi Shirley, there’s an Appalachian folk song called “Lord I’m Coming Home” which you can listen to in the video towards the bottom of this page: https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/lord-im-coming-home/
There was also an English folk song called “Coming Home” by Jay Althouse which you can see here: https://www.singers.com/songsearch/?song=coming+home&x=87&y=14
Was it one of those?
On Monday (3/8) I heard a female pianist play Rachm.’s “Prelude in C Sharp Minor. She was fabulous. However, your playlist did NOT show her name. I would like to have that information, please.
Thank you.
Hi Barbara, yes that was Moura Lympany on the piano. Thanks for listening.
Hi Dave,
I heard you refer to Lincoln and Allen Park as real cities today! I always thought they were staff announcers for that old scalawag “Mister Music”. Please straighten me out!
Hi Daniel, turns out they are cities too! They really should rename those places to cut down on the confusion.
Hi Dave – Still listening and enjoying. I love ragtime and when I heard the Jelly Roll Blues it got me dancing. I have to have that cd – where can I buy it?? I went to the site but couldn’t find it – don’t know the name. Help!
Ellen Wright
Hi Ellen, that was from the cd “Raggin’ at Greenfield Village” by River Raisin Ragtime Revue. We didn’t see that cd available on their website https://www.ragtimeband.org/r4-store/ but maybe you could find it elsewhere on the internet?
Hi Ellen,
My wife is one of the violinists in the “Revue” and she just texted the director about getting you a copy. I’ll add more when he responds.
Thanks for helping out Daniel!
Hi! I listen while I work so excuse me if you discussed this yesterday!!
You played a Bernard Hermann soundtrack yesterday to a John Houseman movie – it had a huge viola d’amour solo. I looked up the movie and found that the artist on the movie soundtrack was a violist named Virginia Majewsky. Apparently the day she went to play this recording, she discovered that her instrument was broken and she had to borrow one from someone else. Bernard Hermann was so impressed with her, he tried to get her own film credit. When he was told that was not possible, he insisted that she share his.
Amazing career she had! I am shocked that I had never heard of her before. Many of her male counterparts are quite famous (Primrose, Heifetz, Piatagorsky).
Thanks for getting me started on this discovery!
That’s very interesting Cathy, if that’s not already in our program notes, we should add it. Thanks for listening!
I wish Duke Ellington had recorded Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. I think he’d have done an interesting version.
Hi, we haven’t heard a version of that by Duke but yes that would be very interesting!
Hi Dave and Peter, great show again today. About 8:40am some interesting (rap?) song was played, with Vivaldi fragments, by somebody named Peter S… (could not get his name although it was mentioned twice), could not find it in the playlist either. I would appreciate some help tracing it, that song made my day. Thank you
Hello listener, that was by P.D.Q. Bach aka Peter Schickele: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDgaLjgczrc
Dave-
What is playing now 7:25 am 12/3. A violin piece. After sous alarm. I think Swedish folk songs?
Just love it!
My whole family loves WRCJ. Thanks for your sense of humor, that is not at the expense of others, Just witty and upbeat. And great music choices.
Just so you know, it was our Ann Arbor high schooler that was in the Choir that hooked us on WRCJ over 8 years ago and we have been donating since.
Have a great day.
Hi Linda, thank you for the support and our thanks to your high schooler for suggesting us! Here’s that piece you mention:
Svendsen, Johan: Two Swedish Folktunes (for string orchestra), Op. 27
Järvi, Neeme
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
BIS:347
Hi Dr. Dave, love the show. Can you tell me what the name of the Veracini piece was that played 12/1/20 between 4:00-5:00pm?
Yes, that was Francesco Maria Veracini’s “Ouverture” (Suite) No. 5 in B flat performed by the Musica Antiqua Cologne under Reinhard Goebel.
what is the cello interlude that is played at the conclusion of your afternoonshow?
Hello Donald, Dr. Dave’s closing music is J.S. Bach’s Solo Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major (BWV 1009) – Bourrees performed by Charles Curtis on the tableau from the album “An Imaginary Dance”. You can take a look at that cd here: http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Imaginary-Dance-Charles-Curtis/dp/B004TB6G3Q