Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474) wrote the secular chanson Bon jour, bon mois, bon an during the 15th Century at a time when numbers and the passing and ordering of time were hot topics. The piece is also one of my favorite selections from tomorrow's altogether timely playlist for Classical101. (Dufay would likely not have celebrated New Years since it was considered a pagan holiday until it was added to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, but who's counting?) Along with Monsieur Dufay, listeners can celebrate another year passed with works such as Mikhail Glinka's Farewell Waltz, Arthur Bloom's Life is Like a Box of Chocolates, traditional pieces such as L'khaim and Olde Yeare Now Away Is Fled, and Franz Waxman's Auld Lang Syne Variations.
Perhaps the most exciting offering for the closing of the year is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in D minor, Op. 125 which will air at 2 pm with a recording of Alan Gilbert conducting the New York Philharmonic. Then, join Classical101 on a voyage to Vienna on New Years Day (Thursday) for a live presentation from Vienna at 11:00 am where Zubin Metah will bring the world together in harmony for the new year. The Vienna Philharmonics annual Neujahrskonzert is a celebration of 19th-century waltz and the Strauss family broadcast live from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Maestro Metah has a rich history with Vienna and the yearly ringing in of the New Year, which he has conducted four times previously. For more information, check out the Vienna Philharmonic's website.