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WCPE Offers Birthday Tribute to Ludwig van Beethoven

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (December 11, 2008)—William Woltz, music director for WCPE, TheClassicalStation.org, announces today that in recognition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Birthday, WCPE is offering Beethovenfest December 14 through 16, 2008.

The radio festival will capture the full range of Beethoven’s compositions, beginning at 7 a.m. ET on December 14 with “For Therese”, Piano Sonata No. 24. Offerings will include piano concertos, overtures, full symphonies and sonatas. The festival concludes with perhaps the most famous symphony, No. 9 in D minor at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16.

“Ludwig van Beethoven towers as one of the greatest of classical composers,” says Woltz. “He triumphed over a total loss of hearing to write some of the most heroic, uplifting music the world has ever known.”

The actual date of Beethoven’s birth is not documented, but his infant baptism, also known as a Christening, held at his Catholic parish church was recorded December 17, 1770. It was customary in Catholic countries at that time to baptize infants the day after their birth.

Beethoven is the first composer to earn his living directly from his own work without being subsidized by a church or aristocrat. His piano-playing career ended in 1808 as his deafness became a detriment to his performances. Late in life, Beethoven began incorporating vocals into his musical compositions, laying the foundation for the Romantic Era in music.

About WCPE:

With a 30-year history, WCPE is a non-commercial, 100 percent listener-supported, independent station dedicated to excellence in Great Classical Music, 24 Hours A Day. Community-minded business underwriters and foundations are among the 150,000 listeners in the North Carolina broadcast area. General Manager Deborah S. Proctor’s leadership has enabled the WCPE community to include national and worldwide listeners. Other radio stations and cable television systems can rebroadcast Great Classical Music, 24 Hours A Day. WCPE is one of the first public broadcasters to stream on the Internet. WCPE is heard worldwide on the Internet in multiple formats, including the next generation IPv6. Because WCPE receives no tax-derived support, the station conducts two on-air fundraising campaigns and two major mail-out campaigns per year to raise needed operating funds. Quarter Notes, the WCPE Program Guide, is published four times a year as a means to enhance appreciation and understanding of classical music. It is distributed to station supporters and is also available online at TheClassicalStation.org/guide. For more information, visit TheClassicalStation.Org or call 1-800-556-5178.

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