CLASSICAL
by Bruce Reid


FRIDAY 12/8

NORTHWEST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA--The buzzing, brilliant vivacity of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos are among music's finest achievements. The NWCO essays all six of them, but the real draw is their magnificent guest: Igor Kipnis, one of the most legendary harpsichordists alive. His solo Bach is wonderful; I can only imagine how well he performs with an ensemble, or how dazzling his long, virtuoso cadenza in Concerto No. 5 will be. Benaroya Hall, Nordstrom Recital Hall, 343-0445 or 292-ARTS, 8 pm, $30 general, $25 students/seniors. Also Sat Dec 9, 8 pm and Sun Dec 10, 2:30 pm.

TUDOR CHOIR AND SEATTLE BAROQUE--Christmas just around the corner again? Must be, since here we go with the season of Messiahs. This one follows Handel's original 1743 version with its six soloists. If you can't make it don't worry: more, many more, are coming. St. Mark's Cathedral, 323-1040, Fri Dec 8 and Sat Dec 9, 7:30 pm, and Sun Dec 10, 3 pm, $15 students & seniors/$20 general/$30 reserved.

CITY CANTÁBILE CHOIR--Stop me if you've already heard this one: An Irishman and an African decide to celebrate the holidays together.... This "Afro-Celtic Winter Concert" might be a nice mix of drumming and bagpipes, or the final nail in the coffin of cross-cultural, polyglot programming. Town Hall, Eighth and Seneca, 623-8632, 8 pm, $15 door, $13 advance, $8 students/seniors. Also Sat Dec 9, 7 pm and Sun Dec 10, 8 pm.


SATURDAY 12/9

PRESENT SOUNDS CD RELEASE PARTY--Never having been to a party in celebration of a CD, I've no idea what goes on; but if listening to the disc itself is a party you might consider attending, as the three works are intriguing. Christian Asplund's Symphony No. 4 is scored for the Cagian combination of orchestra and paper; Tom Baker's "musical mobile" Negative Space sounds (in description) like late La Monte Young; and Christopher DeLaurenti's Three Camels for Orchestra is, well, just a pretty funny title. Speakeasy Cafe, 2304 Second Ave, 971-5100, 4 pm, free.


TUESDAY 12/12

ELIZABETH FALCONER--The great koto performer and composer Elizabeth Falconer lectures on "Composing for Koto." Some of her own delicately impressionistic work will be performed as illustration. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919 or 789-3628, 7:30 pm, free.


RADIO SHOWS
by Megan Seling


THURSDAY 12/7

MAYOR SCHELL--Got a bone to pick with the mayor? Who doesn't? Here's your chance to take it directly to the source: Mayor Paul Schell will be in the studio addressing listener's questions and concerns, of which there surely will be plenty. (Ahem, TDO, cough, cough.) KUOW 94.9 FM, 9 am.

MIND BODY MATTERS--John Gray, Ph.D., author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, has a new book out titled Children Are From Heaven. Now isn't that just precious. He'll suggest parenting tips and how to make it through the "terrible twos" alive. KUOW 94.9 FM, 9 pm.


SATURDAY 12/9

THE LIVE ROOM--Earlier this year, fun pop outfit Dorkweed released a brand-new album, My Motor. Now get to know the band better via a short interview and hear songs like "Alanis" and "Pipebomb" performed live, all without having to leave the couch. KCMU 90.3 FM, 8 pm.

SONARCHY RADIO--Jay Roulston on trumpet, plus Saul Cline on tenor sax, multiplied by Todd Bishop on drums and Paul Gabrielson on bass, equals what? Roulston/Cline & Co. and some damn fine new jazz. KCMU 90.3 FM, 11 pm.


SUNDAY 12/10

NEW DIMENSIONS--Tonight is part one of a six-part series based on "Peacemaking: The Power of Non-Violence," a historic conference that took place in San Francisco, CA, and included the Dalai Lama, Stephen Levine, and Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn. KUOW 94.9 FM, 10 pm.


WEDNESDAY 12/13

RON SIMS--What the hell is Ron Sims thinking when it comes to the Tenants Union? Ask him that and any other questions you've been dying to get off your chest as he takes your calls from the KUOW studios. KUOW 94.9 FM, 9 am.



OUT OF TOWN

BLONDE REDHEAD: Thurs Dec 7, Aladdin Theatre, Portland; Sun Dec 10, Starfish Room, Vancouver, BC

QUASI: Fri Dec 8, Berbati's Pan, Portland

IN FLAMES, NEVERMORE, SHADOWS FALL, BURN IT DOWN: Fri Dec 8, Satyricon, Portland

HELL'S BELLES, THE BRIEFS, LOPEZ: Sat Dec 9, Cobalt Lounge, Portland

AIMEE MANN, MARSHALL CRENSHAW: Sat Dec 9, Roseland Theater, Portland

JOHN WESLEY HARDING, CHRISTY McWILSON: Sat Dec 9, Taylor's, Eugene

BLUE MEANIES, PINEHURST KIDS, THE WUNDER YEARS: Mon Dec 11, Pine Street Theater, Portland

764-HERO: Mon Dec 11, Lola's, Portland

BLOODHOUND GANG, GOLDFINGER, A: Tues Dec 12, Roseland Theater, Portland