The specials will air on KRCU 90.9 FM between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28.

At 11 a.m., listeners will enjoy "Feast for the Ears: A Second Helping," a thoughtful mix of orchestral, chamber and vocal music. The program's centerpiece is Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring," and it features Copland describing how he achieved his distinctly American sound.

Host Mark Perzel also presents the tuneful works of other notable Americans - Edward MacDowell, William Billings, John Knowles Paine and Charles Ives along with popular songs from Colonial times. Perzel turns to the Old World celebrations of Thanksgiving and harvest through works by J. S. Bach and selections from both Glazunov's and Tchaikovsky's works entitled "The Seasons."

At 1 p.m., as Thanksgiving brings family and friends together to share common blessings, "Giving Thanks 2002: A Celebration of Fall, Food, & Gratitude" brings music and words together in a thoughtful reflection on the meaning of the holiday.

John Updike reads two November poems, one written for his young children at Thanksgiving, the other from his new volume Americana. Anne Lamott offers "Letting It Rise," a funny and touching essay on the meaning of bread from the best-selling author of Bird by Bird and Traveling Mercie and Donald Hall reflects on bread and blessings, reading his poem "Valley of Morning."

Finally at 3 p.m., KRCU 90.9 FM will offer "Songs for the Journey: A Festival of Hymns," a one-hour special that celebrates the power of group song to bring people together, to inspire them, to warm their hearts. In the spirit of gathering together as a community, this heart-warming program features more than 700 voices including members of choral ensembles from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and nearly 50 church and community choirs from Northern Ohio.

KRCU 90.9 FM is Cape Girardeau's local Public Radio International affiliate and a National Public Radio member station. KRCU is located on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. More information about KRCU 90.9 FM can found at http://www.krcu.org.