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On July 8th WNYC celebrates its 85th anniversary. I’ll host a special Evening Music event broadcast live from the Greene Space that night, with a variety of performances that harken back to our starting year of 1924–including a live performance by the vivacious Marta Eggerth, who began her career when she was 11 years old in 1923!

Last weekend we had the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, and the 40th anniversaries of Woodstock and the first moon landing are coming soon. Of course, this July 4th weekend celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. We’re celebrating the spirit of independents on WNYC with a special series of my show Spinning On Air each night.

What are you celebrating, and what are you doing to celebrate?

Here’s Marta Eggerth singing “Über weite Felder/Wo die Lerche singt” in “Wo die Lerche singt” from 1936; a film based on the operetta by Franz Lehàr with Hans Söhnker.

“Summertime, and the livin’ is greasy…” (Is that how the song goes?) Sunday is the first day of summer and it’s the summer solstice. You can be sure that summer will make a big splash on Evening Music Sunday night, with a veritable estival festival of summery sounds. As we move into the hot season, where are you planning to go? What are you planning to do? How will you cope with the heat? What signs of summer have you seen?

During Evening Music throughout this weekend let’s see what the music evokes to you. A color? An animal? An object? An aroma? A taste? As you listen, react in the Comments section below, using just a word or phrase. After the music ends I’ll read your phrases on the air, and we’ll hear how the responses combine.

I’ve just finished reading “The Little Stranger,” the latest novel by British author Sarah Waters. As usual for Waters, details accumulate to tell her story, enhancing the vividness of her characters and their relationships. Last night I saw the latest movie from Pixar animation, “Up,” which is also enriched by its details of (apparent) movement, light, and texture. What’s one telling detail about you or your environment?

As we gather ’round the radio hearth to savor the sounds, most listeners are enjoying Evening Music as accompaniment to some activity. Watcha doin’?

Take 20 minutes sometime soon to watch this wonderful talk by pianist/conductor Benjamin Zander. His presentation on Music and Passion was given in February, 2008, at the annual TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference. Zander is passionate about classical music, and passionate about making us passionate about it. He uses Chopin to make his point, but his observations about line, attentiveness, and emotional listening can be applied to any music that’s new and unfamiliar to the listener.

We’ll hear some Chopin on Friday Evening Music, and Beethoven conducted by Benjamin Zander Sunday evening. Meanwhile listen! with senses awakened by Zander’s enlivening presentation.

What makes your eyes shine?

Mother’s Day is Sunday, and will be musically celebrated on Spinning On Air and Evening Music with a beautiful bouquet of Mom songs.

Our mothers teach us so much, directly or indirectly, deliberately or unintentionally. What did you learn from Mom? Words of wisdom? A recipe? An adage? Sartorial advice? Rules of etiquette? Guidance for life?