SATURDAY 9/9

STEPHEN CRESWELL--There is a lovely tale of Bach, at the age of 20, walking 250 miles to the town of Lübeck just to hear Buxtehude play; lovely, and only partly true, since the young organist was almost certainly angling for the 68-year-old Buxtehude's job. Still, the story's part of the classical lore, and violist Stephen Creswell is honoring it with an ingenious two-day series of concerts. In the course of the three performances, several of Bach's unaccompanied violin sonatas and all six of the cello suites will be transposed and performed on Creswell's instrument; the twist is that people who walk to the show (how they intend to have you prove this, I've no idea) get 50 percent off their ticket price. Pilgrim Congregational Church, Broadway and E Republican, 8 pm; Gift of Grace Lutheran Church, N 40th and Meridian, Sun Sept 10, 3 pm; Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 Third Ave W, 325-7066, Sun Sept 10, 7:30 pm; $12 general/$10 seniors/$5 students.

SUNDAY 9/10

REBEKKAH GRAVES--The vocalist, whom I've never heard, apparently has a strong, yet tender and flowing voice; if not, she's a fool to essay Barber's Hermit Songs and the warmly nostalgic Knoxville: Summer of 1915. The evening also features what I presume will be a typically fine and ringing piece from Janice Giteck, Trois chansons de Bilitis; and works by the startlingly unprolific Romantic songwriter Henri Duparc, whose three songs performed here represent almost one-quarter of his complete output. The Seattle Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra does backing. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 292-ARTS, 3 pm, $12 students and seniors/$20 general.

TUESDAY 9/12

LYNETTE WESTENDORF--Composer/pianist Westendorf's lecture, with musical examples, is entitled "Twelve-Tone Composition in Jazz and Improvisation Structures." Classical fans who've lamented that serialism seems headed for the scrap heap--hard as it may be to believe, there are some of us out there--should take note. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919 or 789-3628, 7:30 pm, free.

RADIO SHOWS
by Kris Adams

THURSDAY 9/7

SOUNDPRINT--"American Yokozuna." American expatriates discuss the hardships and challenges of breaking into the traditional Japanese arts, from kabuki and noh theater to traditional music and sumo wrestling. Featured is Akebono, the Hawaiian-born sumo wrestler and only American to date who's held the coveted Grand Sumo Champion title. KUOW 94.9 FM, 7:30 pm.

FRIDAY 9/8

THIS AMERICAN LIFE--"How Will I Be Remembered?" Sarah Vowell takes a tour of presidential libraries and prepares a radio briefing for President Clinton, advising him what to do to his library. Also, a 1965 recording of Lee Harvey Oswald's mother, Marguerite, who defends her parenting skills and is concerned with how history will treat her. KUOW 94.9 FM, 7 pm.

SATURDAY 9/9

LIVE ROOM--This week's installment of Live Room features Welcome, described as "moody, feedback-drenched fuzz rock." Here comes the rain again.... KCMU 90.3 FM, 8 pm.

SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED--In an all-new episode of the local comedy show, Johnny and Scotty get a look at their not-so-pretty future, and Lonnie and Leonard go to Acapulco. Plus a Mexican soap opera! KQBZ 100.7 FM, 9 pm.

SUNDAY 9/10

WHAT'S THE WORD?--"Rereading." One thing about knowing how to read is, sooner or later, you'll come across something you love so much that you are compelled to read it more than once, even when you know how it goes and how it ends. Here, a famous passage from Dante's Divine Comedy, passages from essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a passage from Argentinean writer Jose Luis Borges are read for the benefit of literati who can't get enough of them. KUOW 94.9 FM, 2:30 pm.

TUESDAY 9/12

BEYOND 2000--NPR Playhouse is a new program from KUOW, featuring science-fiction dramas from all the greats--Bradbury, Verne, LeGuin, Heinlein, et al.--performed by noteworthy actors and hosted by writer Harlan Ellison. This week features Knock by Frederick Brown with Rene Auberjonois, and Even the Queen by Connie Wills with Diana Douglas and Barbara Rush. KUOW 94.9 FM, 10 pm.

REGIONAL MUSIC

ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE: Fri Sept 8, Satyricon, Portland, 503-243-2380

STEVE MILLER BAND: Fri Sept 8, Waterfront Park, Portland

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES: Fri Sept 8, Roseland Theater, Portland, 503-224-2038

HERMAN'S HERMITS, MICKEY DOLENZ: Sat Sept 9, Waterfront Park, Portland

THE MELODY UNIT, THE HELIO SEQUENCE, HIGH VIOLETS: Sat Sept 9, Crystal Ballroom, Portland, 503-778-5625

THE NEED: Sun Sept 10, Aladdin Theater, Portland, 503-233-1994

BLACK HEART PROCESSION, MAN OR ASTRO-MAN?: Tues Sept 12, Berbati's Pan, Portland, 503-248-4579

MIKE WATT: Wed Sept 13, Berbati's Pan, Portland, 503-248-4579