Creating Morning Classics by Gary Gerard

When I put together an hour of Morning Classics I start by referring to a list of more than 300 composers whose music is familiar and appropriate for the early morning time period. After choosing the first three pieces for a typical hour, I have to find one more that fits the remaining time available. So I take that time, let’s say it’s 14 minutes and 20 seconds, search our music library database and up comes a list of classical pieces that often includes a composer totally unknown to me. That’s when the fun begins.

I find the composer’s piece in the library, listen to make sure it’s appropriate and then I research the composer. The discoveries are fascinating. Such composers include Pavel Vranicsky, Christian Rummel, Francesco Barsanti, Friedrich Burgmuller, Luigi Gatti, Jaime Zenamon, Johann Molter, Albertus Groneman, John Hebden, Ivan Muller, Johann Just, York Bowen, Saverio Mercadante and Joan Baptista Pla. Often, they were extremely well-respected virtuosos and attracted wide audiences for performances on their instrument of choice. Many were prolific composers well respected in their day and made major contributions to the development of musical forms. I always try to tell listeners what was significant about them.

In short, the exhilaration of discovery is laced throughout the music you hear on my Morning Classics programs. I hope you’ll join me weekday mornings from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. as I continue to add to the list of lesser-known and unfamiliar composers whose wonderful music helps you start your day in style!