December 2010 Radio Advent blog 24

Christmas Eve and radio-wise there will be millions tuning to BBC radio and television with good reason. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is the Christmas Eve service held in King's College Chapel started in 1918 and has been covered by BBC radio since 1928.



You can read about the service and download a service booklet at: http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons.html  


The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on 24 December at 1500 UTC http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wqgmv  
It is also broadcast at 1400 UTC on Radio 3 on Christmas Day http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wlg7m  , and at various times on the BBC World Service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cjlc2  
It is also on BBC 1 and BBC 2 tv and you can find it on the Listen Again facility at BBC i-player for seven days aftrwards.


I first heard it in 1989. I remember that Christmas well, as the most politically momentous year of my life to date drew to a close. The Berlin Wall had been torn down six weeks earlier, eastern Europe was becoming free, the peace protestors of east and west had finally been vindicated, and even the apartheid regime in South Africa was having to relent. Sadly democracy in China was still to come, and we still wait today, whilst ruthless western capital of so many kinds, from services to products, greedily makes inroads into the Chinese markets with scant regard to using this to help secure soem kind of democracy for the people.


Tuning into Radio Bucharest’s looped and live announcements when the station was seized by the people after the revolution which overthrew the despotic Ceausescus. Hearing the impassioned pleas and gasps of the taste of freedom live on air (in the pre-internet age remember) was breath-taking.


On a lighter note I remember preparing for Christmas in Surrey, watching Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday for the first time- which was a film that endeared me to Jacques Tati and remains a favourite. And then tuning into Radio 4 or the World Service as the day darkened and cooking and present preparations took place all around. The haunting sounds of the carols from Kings hit me and I realised why it had become such an important starting point to so many people’s Christmas across the globe.


I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a brave 2011.

December 2010 Radio Advent blog 23

Glogg (Swedish mulled wine), See Radio Sweden's Advent calendar, for 15 December http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=1687283

Scandinavian radio is often entertaining and informative. The main international shortwave broadcaster in English is of course Radio Sweden, their 60 Degrees North programme is one of the best on the air (and the Internet), and at this time of the year often contains fascinating glimpses into winter celebrations across the Nordic countries: http://radiosweden.org/ 

For the local radio scene try the Swedish northern coastal city of Lulea for Radio Norrbotten: www.sr.se/Norrbotten/  and Rix FM: www.rixfm.com

In the far north of Norway Radio Tromso is at: www.radiotromso.no whilst on the north-eastern border with Finland in Karajsok, NRK Sami radio broadcasts for the Lappish (Sami) community. Maybe this is Santa's local radio station?: www.nrk.no/kanal/nrk_sami_radio/

 

As well as covering the northern part of Norway and Sweden, Lapland extends into Finland. Lapin Radio in Rovaniemi, with a photo gallery of celebrations in the studios, is at: www.lapinradio.fi  


Just south of the Arctic circle in Tornio is a radio station called Radioaktiivenen, (Finnish for Radio Active), complete with studio webcam: http://active.llaky.fi  


Finally from the frozen north why not try national radio on the Faroe Islands, which comes from the capital Torshavn and is online. Ras 2 is at: www.ras2.fo  and Utvarp Foroya is at: www.uf.fo  There are links in English including travel information and maps, ferry timetables should you fancy a winter break with a difference at: www.ssl.fo/  

December 2010 Radio Advent blog 22

Photo from: http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/lem295rep.dx

There is special place in my heart for the British DX Club, BDXC, of which I have been a member since the 1990s and general editor of the monthly bulletin “Communication” since 2005. I also run the BDXC Audio Circle, a monthly programme available on mp3, CD or audio cassette. Full details including logs, news, downloads frequency guides, social events and DXpeditions, plus the important membership details are at: www.bdxc.org  

From Finland, Mika Makelainen publishes reports on the DXpeditions to Lemmenjoki in Finland's Arctic North. Imagine how deep and crisp the snow is laying there as you read this!


2010 DXpedition in Finnish and English: http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/lem295rep.dx and
http://lem298.blogspot.com/  
Check out the details at the ever excellent DXing Info website:
2009 DXpedition http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/lem278rep.dx
Also http://www.tapiokalmi.net/dx/lem/index.html  

December 2010 Advent Radio blog 21

A fascinating look back at Christmas radio during the Cold War from a VoA, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty versus Radio Moscow, Berlin, Kiev, Tashkent etc. perspective, at this great newly launched historical blog, not long up and running and wowing many of us:

http://coldwarradios.blogspot.com/2010/12/red-invader-freedom-girl-and-santa.html

December 2010 Advent Radio Blog 20

If it is not easy to escape to the shortwave sets in your radio shack, the chances are that you will have a medium wave radio in the kitchen. Some of my most treasured winter DXing and programme listening has come from evenings spent in the warmth of the kitchen, whilst baking Christmas goodies, writing cards and wrapping presents.



On medium wave it is a treat to hear carols, concerts and other music from around Europe, as well as being very satisfying to be picking up broadcast aimed at a more localised audience. Conditions are best after dark and many an hour can be spent enjoying sounds such as Radio Slovenia from Beli Kriz on 1170 kHz, which includes soothing gospel music in Slovene. VRT Belgium on 1512 kHz is an easier catch.

Deutschlandfunk on 1269 kHz and also 153 long wave has a powerful signal and can capture the essence of the Christmas markets in Germany (you can almost taste the gluhwein), as does Sudwest Rundfunk from Wolfsheim on 1017 kHz, as well as 6030 and 7265 kHz shortwave. Radio Sweden’s medium wave outlet on 1179 kHz supplements their shortwave output in several languages and with Scandinavian music.

For a Spanish twist on the season COPE (1269 kHz) and SER (1026 and 1287 kHz) are amongst the easily heard Iberian stations. And don’t forget French festivities too, by turning that dial to 864 or 1278 kHz for France Bleu in Strasbourg (amongst many other French delights to be heard). Finally, the American Forces Network in Weisskirchen Germany on 873 kHz is likely to be broadcasting lots of goodwill messages, leastways to its troops based in Europe.

December 2010 Advent Radio Blog 19

Whether or not the snow lays deep and crisp and even on Wenceslas Square in Prague, the radio station offers the snowy landscapes of central European life. Radio Prague http://www.radio.cz/en  with a shortwave schedule at: http://www.radio.cz/en/static/about-radio-prague/frequencies-new  



Try 7345 kHz from 0800 UTC, 9880 from 1130, 5930 from 1700, 5930 from 1800 and 2100.


They also have a clever crossword competition online at http://www.radio.cz/en/static/christmas-contest-2010/  

December 2010 Advent Radio Blog 18

Amongst the many shortwave stations that I always make a point of tuning into at this time of year is Radio Canada International (RCI) http://www.rcinet.ca/  . ‘Blink’ is RCI’s Saturday amalgamation of the CBC domestic show ‘The Link’. This connects new immigrants to Canada and Canada to the world, and is where you can ‘‘find out what’s new and exciting on Canada’s cultural landscape’. ‘Maple Leaf Mailbag’ can also be relied upon for a Canadian cultural Christmas. 9740,11845, 15365, 17790 KHz from 1800 UTC.

CBC Domestic can be heard from 1600 to 0000 UTC on 9625 kHz.

CBC Radio 2 Christmas programmes: http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs/2010/12/radio2-holidayschedule.html
and a musical advent calendar at : http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/programs/2010/12/musicaladventcalendar.html