Around the world with PBS

Scotland, Ireland and a hint of Belgium. But mostly Germany.

That's not an itinerary for a European vacation; it's a list of the nations my ancestors came from. But it could almost be something else: a catalogue of the homelands covered in upcoming ethnic specials on PBS.

Public television, long enamored of English TV shows and British history, has lately discovered the profitable joys of offering a wider ethnic array, first through programs about Ireland and now through shows about everyone from the Scots to Africans.

Old country

In coming weeks, PBS has planned several broadcasts about "the old country." They come during the network's December pledge drive, a timing which is not coincidental. After running a few recent shows about Irish history, PBS found out how popular they are with viewers, and the network now hopes explorations of other ethnic groups might even louder ring bells with more people -- including cash register bells.

Certainly, as the large population bulge known as the baby-boomers grows older, more and more of them are exploring their ancestry and wondering about the history, music and customs of where their forebears came from. So programming about Irish music, Scottish poetry and Italian immigrants seems sure to win audiences.

Here's what PBS has lined up for December -- including a trio of Ireland shows:

* "Voices of Scotland" is a Highland fling narrated by actor Cliff Robertson with readings of Scottish verse written by Robert Burns and others. In addition, a youth choir performs "Auld Lang Syne" and other Scottish tunes. All of that is background to visuals of castles, the Isle of Skye and the natural wonders north of England (WMHQ, channel 45, Dec. 7, 8 p.m.).

* "The Italian Americans" uses vintage films and old photos to tell the story of the immigrants who came from the peninsula shaped like a boot and gave birth to such famous Americans as Tommy Lasorda, Joe Mantegna and Gay Talese (WMHT, channel 17, Dec. 4, 8 p.m.; repeated on Dec. 6 at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.).

* "Gael Force: An Irish Music Event" gathers everyone from Irish stepdancers to Sinead O'Connor to perform traditional music from the Emerald Isle (WMHQ, channel 45, Dec. 6, 9 p.m.).

* "The Soul of Christmas: A Celtic Music Celebration with Thomas Moore" is a pastiche of traditional holiday songs and thoughts by the spiritual writer (WMHT, channel 17, Dec. 14, 12:25 p.m.).

* "Faith of Our Fathers," the third Ireland show, focuses on religious music through performances by monks from the Glenstal Abbey and a choir. Such classic hymns as "Tantum Ergo" and "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" are featured. This show derives from a CD that became so popular in Ireland that it outsold many rock albums (WMHQ, channel 45, 9:30 p.m.)

* "Ipi Ntombi: An African Dance Celebration" is a South African musical about love, and the conflict between tradition and progress. In keeping with the show's origins as a stage musical, the exotic-sounding title simply means "Where are the girls?" (WMHT, channel 17, Dec. 5, 9 p.m.).

And if that's not enough for you and you still want some of the sceptered isle in your December, then tune in to "The Saints with Sister Wendy," in which the charming and knowledgeable art critic from Merrie Olde Englande examines how the lives of holy men and women have been illustrated in paintings and illuminations (WMHT, channel 17, Dec. 7, 6:40 p.m.).

(12-04-97)

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