[ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
- From: "Steven Bingham" <steven.bingham1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 15:20:58 +0100
Betjeman reading Summonsed by Bells is a worthwhile experience. He did
record a lot of his poems without music long before Jim Parker came along. I
am not sure that they were re-read for those musical productions just extra
spaces inserted to fit with the music.
Jon Kirkpatrick turns A Shropshire Lad into a proper song which works very
well. There is a new version on his latest album. If I remember rightly the
original was recorded in 1978 soon after the Betjeman/Parker release.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
Sent: 06 October 2013 11:34
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
But would Betjamin have worked as well without the period charm of Jim
Parker's music? I think that first album is still brilliant. In particular
I like the captain Webb track done in what he thinks is a salopian accent.
There's something hilariously spooky about the repetition of the final line
Rigid and dead.
On 6 Oct 2013, at 00:38, Elaine Harris (Rivendell) wrote:
> Ah, had forgotten about John Betjeman reading his own work; really,
> really love it. How could I forget?!
>
> Have seen Roger Mcgough live as well as interviewed him; always hear
> him whenever I read anything of his.
>
> Take care,
>
> Elaine
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Trish Talbot
> Sent: Sunday, 6 October 2013 4:00 AM
> To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
>
> I can't imagine anyone reading Benjamin Zephaniah's work other than
> the man himself. He has to be the ultimate in performance poets. I
> saw Adrian Mitchell performing his own poetry when I was a student
> many many years ago, and he was brilliant. I also enjoy hearing John
> Betjeman reading his own work. I once heard an interview with Stevie
> Smith not long before she died, (Or it might have been a recording
> played as a tribute to her after she died) and she spoilt her poems by
> singing them in a rather monotonous voice.
> Trish.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Elaine Harris (Rivendell)" <elaineharris@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2013 7:08 AM
> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
>
>
> Yes, agree about Mcgough and Dylan Thomas; don't know all of the
> others. One can only wonder how Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth and
> Browning would have sounded reading their own work.
>
> I suspect appreciation of authors or poets reading their own material
> is subjective, like the appreciation of the books per se. I know there
> are divided opinions about Alan Bennett's readings of his own work; I
> love it but many do not.
>
> Perhaps the universal truth is that not all writers make good readers
> and not all readers can write but the appreciation of both or either
> is entirely in the mind or ear of the beholder.
>
> Elaine
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
> Sent: Friday, 4 October 2013 11:35 PM
> To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
>
> Stephen King is notoriously bad at reading his own stuff but I love le
> Cares interpretation of his books. The thing about poems and poets
> depends a bit on who and what you mean. for instance, I can't imagine
> anyone ever reading Beesley street better than John cooper clark.
> Same goes for Benjamin Zephaniah and I always thought that Adrian
> Mitchell was a brilliant reader of his own work as were the Liverpool
three of Henri, Mcgough and Patton.
> And, of course, Dylan Thomas reading Fern Hill is a moment of magic.
> On 4 Oct 2013, at 14:02, Elaine Harris (Rivendell) wrote:
>
>> I am not a fan of Val Mcdermid and have never heard her speak so am
>> not judge.
>>
>> However, my better half has heard much of both James Herriot and John
>> Le Carré read their own writings and was impressed by neither.
>>
>> I expect Stephen Fry and Tony Robinson could manage admirably, both
>> being skilled actors as well as writers.
>>
>> Some years ago I talked to the organizer of a poetry festival; I
>> asked her if poets were necessarily the best people to read their own
work.
>> The reply was an unequivocal, "No, dear". Of course, we have all
>> heard exceptions to this rule but I daresay it applies equally to
>> many an
> author.
>>
>> Take care,
>>
>> Elaine
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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