Music with Minnesotans: William Roos

St. Paul, Minn. — William Roos (pronounced ROSE) is an income tax resource specialist. That just means he answers those burning needing-research questions for tax preparers and CPA's.

So how does music fit into his life?

Well, not at all!

Actually, Bill says that just because a Strauss waltz and a tax return don't go together, that doesn't mean he's without music every other moment of his day, whether listening to Classical MPR or a stack of CD's in the den or car — and nearly always alone since his wife is not into classical at all, but more rock and country.

In fact, he tells a story of just after they were married, when she was keen to use the new hi-fi Bill had bought to play her music. No, he told her, this is for classical music only. And after that, she was happy to tell him he'd be doing his own dishes, laundry and cooking!

It appears the hi-fi was shared at home from then on.

But in the car — especially the time when Bill lived in Montana and drove long stretches of empty highway — classical music filled the air.

He has a special affinity for brass instruments and we listened to a few soloists, plus an unusual piano concerto with string accompaniment and one lone virtuoso trumpet.

Bill didn't add me to the playlist, but he did bring in one of my concerto CD's to sign. That was a real blast from the past!

The session ended with Strauss. Bill wrote me about a year ago after I said something on-air about dancing in a sundress to Strauss and he was sure I needed to change that outfit to a long hooped skirt.

He was right about that. No one can really move to the Waltz King limited by a measly sun dress!

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Bill Roos's playlist:

Dmitri Shostakovich, Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and String Orchestra - Andre Previn, William Vacchiano, New York Philharmonic/Bernstein

Jean-Baptiste Arban (Hunsberger) Variations on The Carnival of Venice - Wynton Marsalis/Eastman Wind Ensemble

Nicolo Paganini, Moto Perpetuo - Sergei Nakariokov/Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Johann Strauss, Jr., By the Beautiful Danube - Boskovsky/Vienna Philharmonic

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Summer vacation for Music with Minnesotans begins today! We'll return in September with US Representative Betty McCollum who tells me she has a thing for Ferde Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite."

Keep in touch over the summer and let me know if you'd like to be on Music with Minnesotans by sending me your playlist.