Works For Me Playlists

Christopher Coleman

I was asked by Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4, Hong Kong's Classical Public Radio station, to host a programme for two months.  Works For Me has a rotating host taken from musicians and music lovers who don't ordinarily work as presenters on the air; the idea is to have a lively, light show demonstrating the host's particular musical enthusiasms.  I've programmed all the shows with a concept, seeking to provide an eclectic mix of great music where Maynard Ferguson makes sense juxtaposed with Beethoven. Two segments of particular interest are Back to Back, in which two quite different versions of the same piece in immediate succession are juxtaposed; and New Voices, in which accessible works by living, lesser known composers are aired. Following the first series in October and November of 2004, I have been asked back repeatedly. Works for Me airs Saturdays from 10-12.

Series VI, October-November 2006

Nov. 25: Heard in the Abyss

Nov. 18: Leftovers!

Nov. 11: From the Podium

with guest conductor Johnny Poon

Nov. 4: Not Enough Caffeine/Too Much Caffeine

Oct. 28: Little Show of Horrors

Oct. 21: Bad Habits

with guest commentator Nury Vittachi

Oct. 14: Cops and Robbers

Oct. 7: What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Series V, March 2006

March 25: What the Heck is THAT?

March 18: Love Letter to My Wife, Lorraine

March 11: Thespians!

March 4: The Power of Percussion

Series IV, January 2006

Jan 28: It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (reprise)

Jan 21: The Songs of Gay Men

Jan 14: The Songs of Angry Men

Politics and music, with guest commentator Nury Vittachi

Jan. 7: Old Voices/New Voices

Series III, October 2005

Oct. 29: Halloween

Oct. 22: Game of Pairs

Oct. 15: Latin America

Oct. 8: The Glory of Brass

Oct. 1: Communism and Music

Series II, June-July 2005

July 30: The Island of Misfit Toys
pieces I wanted to play on other shows, but didn't have time for

July 23: True Love
for my wife, on the occasion of our 25h wedding anniversary

July 16: Strange Deaths

July 2: Saints and Sinners

June 25: It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing

June 18: Travelogue

June 11: A Tribute to George Rochberg

June 4: Time for Me to Strut My Stuff

Series I, 2004

Nov. 27: Famous Last Words

Nov. 20: Dr. Coleman's Colossal Cabinet of Compelling Curiosities

Nov. 13: Sacred and Profane

Nov. 6: It's a Small World (Musical pluralism)

Oct. 30: Murder and Mayhem

Oct. 22: The Birds and The Bees, and a Few Other Creatures, Besides

Oct. 16: So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Oct. 9: Maynard, Beethoven, and All That (music revelling in big sonority)

Oct. 2: Mmmm, Music from Mozart to Mulligan