What musicians in your city would be your city hall's local "on hold" music?

Please hold for a Seattle musician
By Patrick MacDonald
Seattle Times music critic

How about "Wait" by Death Cab for Cutie?

That song would be perfect for a new city of Seattle program that begins today. Now when you call City Hall and are put on hold — as if that ever happens! — music from Seattle musicians will come wafting out of your telephone. The music also can be heard on the city's Web site.

The program, called OnHold, has 11 songs, ranging from jazzy artist-composer Wayne Horvitz's "In the Ballroom" to "The Drunkard" by Wu Ziying, who plays the Chinese zither.

The Web site also provides more information about the musicians, including how to buy their products and where they will be performing, as well as links to their Web sites.

Musicians hoping for a spot on the rotation can learn how to submit music for the project at the Web site.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Seattle's amazing array of musical talent in a way that is both innovative and fun," Mayor Greg Nickels said in a prepared statement.

"The program is a great way to support local artists and expose more people to the incredible diversity of music this city has to offer."

To hear the songs: www.seattle.gov/onhold
And apt title or not, Death Cab for Cutie is probably too rock 'n' roll for the system. The current lineup is made up of classical, folk and jazz selections.

"Hard-edged or aggressive music is less suited to the program," a news release said, "but all submissions will be carefully considered."