Program 699: New Year's Traditions; New Orleans Originals; David McCullough Tribute

Celebrate the new year with the traditions — and a few superstitions — of our friends in Sweden, Croatia, Wales and Scotland on the next Travel with Rick Steves.

We'll also hear about the foods and musicians you can enjoy on the streets of New Orleans, whose multi-cultural origins enliven the city's neighborhoods.

And we remember the late historian David McCullough with a look back at his work on the Wright Brothers, and how they changed the way we see the world.

• The 30-second rejoin theme bed at 06:00 this week includes the tolling of Big Ben in London. 

• Marita Bergman, tour guide from Stockholm
• Marijan Krišković, Croatian tour guide
• Martin deLewandowicz, Welsh tour guide 
• Anne Doig and Ken Hanley, tour guides from Edinburgh, Scotland   
• New Orleans-based tour guides Andrew Farrier and Sandy Hester
• Late historian/author David McCullough

• Edinburgh's three-day Hogmanay New Year's street festival is said to be one of the largest street parties in the world.
• Andrew Farrier and Sandy Hester guide with Free Tours By Foot New Orleans.
• Andrew hosts many of the company's You Tube walking tour videos of New Orleans and nearby.
• Historian David McCullough was with publisher Simon and Schuster for more than 50 years. His book "The Wright Brothers" was released in 2015.
• David McCullough told us on Travel with Rick Steves program #439 how traveling to the sites of American history has always been an important part of his writing, and a high point in his life.  David also spoke with Rick about the influence of France on Americans who learned skills in Paris that would transform 19th century America, on program #450.

• Ekimi, "Minute Noel," The Next Noel / Music-West
• Tingstad and Rumbel, "Auld Lang Syne," The Gift / Sonia Gaia Records
• The New Mayfair Orchestra, "Auld Lang Syne (in 'Savoy Christmas Medley')," 1920s Christmas:  Rhythm and Booze (collection) / Holiday Classic Records
• Anton Paulik and his Orchestra, "Blue Danube Waltz," Night Life in Vienna / Crownstar Records
• Tannahill Weavers, "Auld Lang Syne," A Thistle and Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh (collection) / Green Linnet
• North Sea Gas, "Auld Lang Syne," Dark Island / Scotdisc (Scotland)
• Jim Malcolm, "Auld Lang Syne," Acquaintance / Beltane 
• * The Glasgow Tiki Shakers, "Auld Lang Syne," Beyond the Sea / Cordelia Records
• Kevin Clark, "The Devil Done Got Me Blues," New Orleans (collection) / Putumayo
• Duke Dejan-Preservation Hall Jazz Band, "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," New Orleans (collection) / Putumayo
• Rosie Ledet, "Easy Come, Easy Go," Sweet Brown Sugar / Maison de Soul
• James "12" Andrews and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, "Bourbon Street Parade," New Orleans Brass (collection) / Putumayo
• Boozoo Chavis, "Zydeco Mardi Gras,"  Zydeco Trail Ride / Maison de Soul
• John Williams, "The American Process,"  Lincoln (soundtrack) / Sony Classical
• * Yo-Yo Ma, with Chris Botti, "Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) /Auld Lang Syne," Yo-Yo Ma & Friends:  Songs of Joy and Peace / Sony Classical
• Mark Isham, "Men Before the Mirror," Vapor Drawings / Windham Hill
• U.S. Air Force Band of Mid America, John Cheetham cond., "Over the Top: Jubilation on the Columbia (Journey of Three Rivers)," Exploration and Discovery / Atissimo!
• The Pavão Quartet, "They All Laughed (G. Gershwin)," Someone To Watch Over Me / Landor
• U. S. Air Force Band of the West, "Those Magnificent Airmen in their Flying Machines," A Century of Progress:  The 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight / Altissimo!
• U. S. Air Force Concert Band, "Nuages," Aspire / Altissimo!
• Randy Newman, "Dayton Ohio 1903," Sail Away / Rhino-WB
• Katia and Marielle Labeque, "'Voliere' from 'Le Carnaval des Animaux' (Saint-Saens)," Carnival!  (collection) / The Rainforest Foundation - RCA Victor

* indicates filler music used during breaks

• Program #699 centers on New Year's traditions in segment A.  The unique arts culture of New Orleans, including its Mardi Gras season, is the theme of segment B.  And we pay tribute to historian David McCullough in segment C, who died in August 2022.
• Rick opens segment A at 7:00, saying "let's get ready to welcome in the New Year, European style." Variations on the song "Auld Lang Syne" are peppered throughout segment A, and in the inter-segment music beds following segments A and B.
• At 29:15, Andrew notes that Doreen Kechins and her family have been performing innovative jazz at Royal and Saint Peter's Streets in New Orleans for about 35 years already.
• Rick asks about visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras, starting at 34:21. The guests remind us that Mardi Gras is an entire season, prior to Fat Tuesday. Andrew says he takes part in the Crew of Chewbaccus, as one of the earliest Mardi Gras parades.
• Rick starts the tribute to David McCullough at the end of segment B, and mentions "his passing last August" at 38:04.
• At 41:23, Rick asks David about the (first powered flight) events of December 17 in 1903 at Kitty Hawk. 
• David McCullough mentions the historical importance of August 8th at 52:40 in segment C.  Rick notes in a reset at 55:24 that David died on August 7, 2022.