Adventures in Good Music

Adventures in Good Music
Genre Classical music
Running time 60 minutes, daily
Country United States
Language(s) English
Home station WJR
WCLV
Syndicates worldwide
Host(s) Karl Haas
Writer(s) Karl Haas
Recording studio WCLV
Air dates 1959 to 2007
Opening theme Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata, 2nd movement

Adventures in Good Music, hosted by Karl Haas, was radio's most widely listened-to classical music program,[1][2] and aired nationally in the U.S. from 1970 to 2007. Adventures in Good Music was also syndicated to commercial and public radio stations around the world.[3] The show was awarded the Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting in 1962.[4]

German-American musicologist Karl Haas, whose knowledge of every facet of music was encyclopedic, started Adventures in Good Music in 1959 on radio station WJR in Detroit, Michigan.[3] Syndicated broadcasts of the show across the U.S. began in 1970 on WCLV in Cleveland, Ohio, where the production of the program remained for the rest of its duration.

Each daily episode of the show had a different topic, chosen by Haas, and he aired his personal choice of classical music selections relating to the topic, along with his pleasant blend of explanation, analysis, and background. The theme music for the show was the 2nd movement from Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata (Sonata No 8 in C minor), performed by Haas himself; and Haas started every show with his trademark greeting "Hello everyone."

Haas retired from broadcasting at the age of 89, and did not produce any new episodes of Adventures in Good Music after 2002.[5] WCLV continued to syndicate recordings of his previous shows until June 2007. That month, WCLV announced "with great regret" that it would broadcast and syndicate its last Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas program on June 29, 2007.[6] The announcement explained that the number of stations that carried the show had dropped from well over 400 to fewer than 20, which made it unfeasible to continue the program's national distribution.

Although most episodes of Adventures in Good Music are not available publicly because of copyright restrictions, three CDs featuring Haas and his commentary have been issued: The Romantic Piano, The Story of the Bells, and Song and Dance.

In 2002, a new program was developed to replace Adventures in Good Music, expanded and updated for a 21st-century audience.[7][8] The program, Exploring Music, debuted in October 2003, and is written and hosted by Bill McGlaughlin.

References

  1. ↑ WCLV – Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas
  2. ↑ Holley, Joe (2005-02-08). "Classical Radio Personality Karl Haas, 91, Dies". The Washington Post. p. B06. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Midgette, Anne (2005-02-08). "Karl Haas, Radio Ambassador of Classical Music, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  4. ↑ Peabody Award: Adventures in Good Music
  5. ↑ "Karl Haas, 91; Radio Host Popularized Classical Music With Knowledge and Humor". The Los Angeles Times. 2005-02-08. p. B-9. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Karl Haas' Adventures in Good Music Broadcasts Come to an End". 104.9 WCLV classical FM. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  7. ↑ Williams, David. "'Exploring' Replaces 'Adventures': Bill McGlaughlin Takes a Deeper Look on Classical Music Radio Program." Sunday Gazette-Mail, July 30, 2006 (snippet retrieved October 12, 2008)
  8. ↑ Fine Arts Radio International Awards: 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award

External links