VA Tech Massacre hits home
April 19, 2007As some of you may know, my station is part of Virginia Tech, site of yesterday’s horrific massacre.
During our music programming yesterday and today we have tried to choose selections appropriate to a somber time like this and which express the feelings of our university family.
It is the pride of music programmers that our product articulates feelings that are beyond words, and touches regions of the spirit inaccessible to mere language. In workaday life we labor in relative obscurity and mostly for very little money, but at extraordinary moments such as this, we get a glimpse of how we’re valued by our listeners.
Below I include a few comments from a veritable flood we’ve received from grateful listeners today. Excuse the sloppy cut-and-paste job done in haste — it’s just a small sample of what we’ve heard, and I have to
get back to work.
By the way, we blew all UA’s off the log yesterday and today, and will likely do so again tomorrow.
Seth Williamson
Roanoke, VA
Thank your for your choice of programming today. It has been very helpful for me to process and express my own sorrow and grief through the musical selections. Although I’m a regular listener to WVTF Classics, it wasn’t until today that I fully realized the importance of music as an extension of my own emotions…instead of the music being
only by-products of the composer’s/musicians’ feelings.
Seth,
The music you are playing is the most appropriate response to the terrible tragedy at Tech. Thank you so much for hitting the right note, no pun intended.
I hope it continues all day.
Thank you,
Cris Sterling
Dear seth williamson
Just wanted you to know that the programming for today’s classical music has been comforting and has spoken when there were no words for the VT tragedy. My grateful thanks to whoever changed to programming.
It is appreciated
Mr. Williamson:
Thank you for your thoughtful selection of classical music this morning. I particularly appreciated the Part and the Gorecki, pieces that one rarely hears but were certainly appropriate for the day.
Sincerely,
Dear Seth Williamson,
Thank you for the wonderful, entirely appropriate musical choices you have given us in this morning’s broadcast. I know from personal experience how hard a job you have, and you are handling it so well, and helping us all. Music really can be the best thing sometimes.
Many blessings,
Eve Watters,
listening in Crozet
Dear Seth,
Your musical selections this morning are superb–plangent and sober as the occasion calls for.
Thank you.
Best wishes,
Hi Seth,
Just want to thank you for the very excellent way your ongoing treatment (not the right word, but) of the tragedy that occurred at Tech yesterday.
I know that this hits close to you personally as well as it affects all of us as human beings and I am touched by your sensitivity in words and music.
I wonder if you know how important your impact is, and what good model you are setting. You are providing so much support to so many people just now, at what is undoubtedly a difficult time for you. Peter and I really appreciate what you’re doing. The music, as you say, speaks and comforts far beyond the reach of words.
Friends of ours’ son was among the peole shot yesterday, fortunately he will be okay, physically. His dad is a very committed volunteer at VTF: Roger Odell. Perhaps you know him. Perhaps folks at the studio can hold
them in thought and prayer.
Dear Seth,
As you say, words canno t convey the comfort that I and I’m sure tens of thousands of others have taken from your music today. The Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britain, the Goretsky Symphony of Sorrowful Songs,. it’s all been tremendously moving. Thank you for being there for us when we need you. I know that my next door neighbor, who lost a nephew in the slaughter, has gotten some comfort from your prgram today. God bless you
The following was sent to me by WQLN’s Classical music host, Wally Faas. It was sent to him and others by Seth Williamson. He hosts a Classical music program on Virginia Tech station, WVTF. Our thoughts & prayers are with everyone at Virginia Tech. Tom Lavery – EMRTV
