Jane Hirshfield wrote these beautiful liner notes, I just had to post!
This poem’s lake and maple, its quicksand and egret, all still exist, or their descendents do, going through the same motions of eternity and subtraction, of surface breaking and quick disappearance, of one existence moving into another. It’s a bit like the child’s game of “scissors, paper, rock.” Maple drinks lake, lake becomes maple, leaves fall and feed fish, fish are eaten by egret, moonlight adds its weightlessness to them all, rain comes and leaves, then returns. Consuming and consumed, vanishing and returning, are what we are made of, and of all our loves and longings, as well. This poem signs on for longing – for the human grief of human longing, and for the enlarging longing that calls us into the lake a 14th c. Indian mystic once sang of, limitlessly large. Transparence restores beauty. Inclusion restores beauty. And when those consolations cannot be found or felt, there’s still the beak of the egret touching the water, and the water’s answering shiver. There’s still Lal Ded’s human-voiced singing, if not her lake.
Poems live in people, one by one, as powerful secrets do. They pass between us in silence and on the voice – yet even read in silence, they are meant to be heard. A written poem is a score that wants to awaken inside the instrument of a single human life—right now, yours. Poems are, for me, the deepest voice we hear, one whose overtones and undertones hold the music of full existence. It’s good to think that this poem and its 99 companions are traveling here between larynx, breath, and ear, each becoming an audible secret.
“Lake and Maple” comes from upstate New York, where I still go often, but I’ve lived for 35 years now in the San Francisco Bay Area, writing poems and essays, travelling to teach and give readings, talking with as many kinds of people as I can—biologists, animal psychologists, geomorphologists, physicists, carpenters, artists, farmers, practitioners of all the many forms of awareness. Every one of them, it seems to me, is trying as best they can to save this world.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
The last big day Feb 22
All good things have to come to an end and sadly our recording is almost over. Just two or three late ones coming in and we're done with the taping part. But now comes some fun for us: we get to mix everything and master it all and HEAR IT ALL AGAIN! So I'm really looking forward to that!
Here's my last long-day recount:
The day started with a bang. The great Tyne Daly come in (thanks to David Garrison who also named the CD--Gratias!) and set the room on fire. At 9:30!! Wow. Turns out she's a real poetry maven; in fact she's on the board of the Edna St. Vincent Milley Organization. She read a beautiful Auden poem called But I Can't. But she could! Indeed!
Next in came Edward Hibbert (thanks to Harriet Harris.) He read a divine poem by one of Britain's most famous poets, John Betjemin. Sun and Fun is a short story of a poem all about a Proprietress of a sleazy bar who is dining and remembering the good old days. Edward was hysterically funny and remarkably poignant all at the same time. I'm thrilled he read that poem and is on the album.
We had a rights problem with a poem that Nancy Anderson chose to read so Nancy kindly offered to come in and re-record a public domain piece. I asked her to investigate some William Blake as he is not represented on the album. She didn't really respond to the ones I suggested, so I thought she'd pick something else. Then when she came in she said she found a Blake that she really loved called Mary. What a great poem. I didn't know it. It's all about a beautiful girl in town who gets ostracized for BEING beautiful. The perfect Blake on this album. Of course, Nancy knocked it out of the park. Wonderful.
Thanks to George S. Irving, we were introduced to Louis Zorich and he did Passing The Bar. Those of you who know Lou can just imagine the power he brought to that piece. Those of you who don't, well you only have 38 days to wait!!!!
The day finished up with a special surprise visitor from the UK, Harriet Walker! Guy Paul suggested her and we've been trying to fit her in during her few days in NYC. Well, her plane was delayed and she came in to read before going to the airport! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I suggested a few poets to her, poets that weren't yet represented and when she said that Thomas Hardy was her "local" poet, naturally I jumped. She read two gorgeous poems that he wrote about his wife after she had died. In the interview, she told about how Hardy was not very kind to his wife during her lifetime, but after she passed, the poetry about her flowed and flowed.
Now I have the unhappy task of trying to pick one of the two.
Peter Fitzgerald (the P in GPR) and the head of Sound Associates came to do some work and mixing for us in between Dame Edna rehearsals. Yesterday, Dame Edna taped the pre-show Cell phone announcement but decided she didn't want to do it. But she wrote out a speech. Guess who got to do it? Me! I'm back on Broadway! Must be all the good poetry Karma.
So, that's the latest.
Hopefully GPRRecords.com will be up tonight.
Hopefully people will be able to pre-order the CD on Amazon tomorrow.
Hopefully Peter, Richard, Megan and I will be able to master the album in time.
Very soon, I'm going to send out a blanket e-mail asking for a Head shot and a bio of 100 or so words for the web site.
But for now,
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!
Here's my last long-day recount:
The day started with a bang. The great Tyne Daly come in (thanks to David Garrison who also named the CD--Gratias!) and set the room on fire. At 9:30!! Wow. Turns out she's a real poetry maven; in fact she's on the board of the Edna St. Vincent Milley Organization. She read a beautiful Auden poem called But I Can't. But she could! Indeed!
Next in came Edward Hibbert (thanks to Harriet Harris.) He read a divine poem by one of Britain's most famous poets, John Betjemin. Sun and Fun is a short story of a poem all about a Proprietress of a sleazy bar who is dining and remembering the good old days. Edward was hysterically funny and remarkably poignant all at the same time. I'm thrilled he read that poem and is on the album.
We had a rights problem with a poem that Nancy Anderson chose to read so Nancy kindly offered to come in and re-record a public domain piece. I asked her to investigate some William Blake as he is not represented on the album. She didn't really respond to the ones I suggested, so I thought she'd pick something else. Then when she came in she said she found a Blake that she really loved called Mary. What a great poem. I didn't know it. It's all about a beautiful girl in town who gets ostracized for BEING beautiful. The perfect Blake on this album. Of course, Nancy knocked it out of the park. Wonderful.
Thanks to George S. Irving, we were introduced to Louis Zorich and he did Passing The Bar. Those of you who know Lou can just imagine the power he brought to that piece. Those of you who don't, well you only have 38 days to wait!!!!
The day finished up with a special surprise visitor from the UK, Harriet Walker! Guy Paul suggested her and we've been trying to fit her in during her few days in NYC. Well, her plane was delayed and she came in to read before going to the airport! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I suggested a few poets to her, poets that weren't yet represented and when she said that Thomas Hardy was her "local" poet, naturally I jumped. She read two gorgeous poems that he wrote about his wife after she had died. In the interview, she told about how Hardy was not very kind to his wife during her lifetime, but after she passed, the poetry about her flowed and flowed.
Now I have the unhappy task of trying to pick one of the two.
Peter Fitzgerald (the P in GPR) and the head of Sound Associates came to do some work and mixing for us in between Dame Edna rehearsals. Yesterday, Dame Edna taped the pre-show Cell phone announcement but decided she didn't want to do it. But she wrote out a speech. Guess who got to do it? Me! I'm back on Broadway! Must be all the good poetry Karma.
So, that's the latest.
Hopefully GPRRecords.com will be up tonight.
Hopefully people will be able to pre-order the CD on Amazon tomorrow.
Hopefully Peter, Richard, Megan and I will be able to master the album in time.
Very soon, I'm going to send out a blanket e-mail asking for a Head shot and a bio of 100 or so words for the web site.
But for now,
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!
Friday, February 19, 2010
the first email I sent regarding poetry
Dear Old Friends and New,
I'm thrilled you're interested in participating in this poetry CD and giving so generously of your time. I think it will be a very elegant CD as well as a blast to record.
For those of you who aren’t quite sure what we’re doing (and I’ve seen some people in the street who are saying to me, “Now what exactly are we recording??”), here’s the simple description: I’ve just been made head of a new record label; the first CD we’re putting out is a poetry record. I’ve approached all my colleagues and colleagues of my colleagues to read a poem (their favorite?) for this CD celebration poetry. Simple as that! The title is 100 Poems/100 Performers.
Ed Dixon, Donna Lynne Champlin and Scott Mauro are co-producers on this and have obviously been in touch with their comrades.
The business: I've attached a formal release. First, let me apologize in advance for the legalize in the release. It's just that with SOOOO many participants, we had to be very clear up front. (Oh, those lawyers.)
All favored nations. We'd like to shoot video of the sessions for B roll and publicity. If you want to participate in that, great. If not, not a problem at all. We understand. (Check the NO box.)
NOW FOR THE FUN:
Start picking the poems. I really want "official" poems, if you know what I mean. Not song lyrics that sound like poetry, or a pretty bit of prose that reads like a poem. The masters would be great: Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, Kipling, Auden, Whitman, Frost, Thomas, etc. etc. Modern guys like Wallace Stevens, Williams, Derek Walcott, Maya Angelou. Sonnets, Verse, Blank Verse, There are thousands. If you'd like me to suggest, I would be happy to pick a few that I think would be good for the individuals.
I'd like to start recording in December!!!! We want to release this on April 1, 2010 for National Poetry Month.
Here's how I'd like to schedule the recording. I can offer blocks of time at the studio. You tell me what works with you and then we can officially book you into that time slot. (We can also record in LA for my LA pals.)
I know there will be questions. Please feel free to e-mail me or call me directly and I will answer everything.
Again, thanks for the participation. I think this will be a great tribute to the Broadway Community and a project to be really proud of. For generations to come.
Yours,
Glen
I'm thrilled you're interested in participating in this poetry CD and giving so generously of your time. I think it will be a very elegant CD as well as a blast to record.
For those of you who aren’t quite sure what we’re doing (and I’ve seen some people in the street who are saying to me, “Now what exactly are we recording??”), here’s the simple description: I’ve just been made head of a new record label; the first CD we’re putting out is a poetry record. I’ve approached all my colleagues and colleagues of my colleagues to read a poem (their favorite?) for this CD celebration poetry. Simple as that! The title is 100 Poems/100 Performers.
Ed Dixon, Donna Lynne Champlin and Scott Mauro are co-producers on this and have obviously been in touch with their comrades.
The business: I've attached a formal release. First, let me apologize in advance for the legalize in the release. It's just that with SOOOO many participants, we had to be very clear up front. (Oh, those lawyers.)
All favored nations. We'd like to shoot video of the sessions for B roll and publicity. If you want to participate in that, great. If not, not a problem at all. We understand. (Check the NO box.)
NOW FOR THE FUN:
Start picking the poems. I really want "official" poems, if you know what I mean. Not song lyrics that sound like poetry, or a pretty bit of prose that reads like a poem. The masters would be great: Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, Kipling, Auden, Whitman, Frost, Thomas, etc. etc. Modern guys like Wallace Stevens, Williams, Derek Walcott, Maya Angelou. Sonnets, Verse, Blank Verse, There are thousands. If you'd like me to suggest, I would be happy to pick a few that I think would be good for the individuals.
I'd like to start recording in December!!!! We want to release this on April 1, 2010 for National Poetry Month.
Here's how I'd like to schedule the recording. I can offer blocks of time at the studio. You tell me what works with you and then we can officially book you into that time slot. (We can also record in LA for my LA pals.)
I know there will be questions. Please feel free to e-mail me or call me directly and I will answer everything.
Again, thanks for the participation. I think this will be a great tribute to the Broadway Community and a project to be really proud of. For generations to come.
Yours,
Glen
Feb 18, Back from LA
I just spent four hours in LA. Was it worth it? Two words: Hell, yeah!
I got up at 4AM, was on the plane at 6, in LAX at 9 and at the studio at 10. Whew.
But this was a wonderful, poetic day.
First in was a great pal, Jason Alexander. We've done tons of stuff together and always have a great time working together. I love him! We kept circling on what to do. Jason loved a few but I had to tell him they were already done. (He really wanted to do ULYSSES and COY MISTRESS but Chris Sarandon and Guy Paul beat him to it!) Just Wednesday night we hit on THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER. And boy was that the right choice. He came in with all the voices down and then after nailing it two times said, I think I want to change the voices and came up with MORE! What a tour de force. Amazing!!!!
Next in were another set of old friends, Beth Howland and Charles Kimbrough. (I adore having my old theater pals make it so huge in TV!) But of course Beth and Charlie will always mean COMPANY to me! (And tons of other fans.) Beth knew she wanted to do Dorothy Parker right away and you've never heard a more wonderfully vulnerable performance of LOVE SONG. Charlie's poet of choice, who shall remain nameless, has an agent who is being way to difficult, so we moved on to Browning's MEETING AT NIGHT. You can "feel" him galloping on a horse, racing to the house of his beloved. Fantastic.
This section of old friends was capped off with our National Treasure, Greg Jbara. I'm so thrilled about his Tony this year. And his speech is etched in my conscience. (I haven't counted the Tony Winners on this CD but there are TONS. And Oscar winners, Emmy Winners, Obie Winner, and just WINNERS.)
He and I knew what he was going to do from the very beginning: BOTTOM'S DREAM. Greg is and always will be the definitive Bottom for me. And he didn't disappoint. Wait until you hear it. He said to me, "Can I do my dream Bottom?" What do you think I said? So we have Greg's Dream Bottom's Dream. Or something like that. I was busy listening to the recording but my pals in the studio said, "You gotta see this." He was performing Bottom full out for the session. So I asked if we could video him doing it again. He said yes and now we have his performance on tape! Wow!
An aside: This group--plus Patti LuPone--, being friends, was the first group I asked to be on this CD. I figured if they were interested, I might have something. Needless to say, they all responded immediately and said yes. I was encouraged to move forward. So this was a very special morning for me and SO WORTH THE TRIP TO LA.
Next in were a bunch of new friends. Peter Paige, who I so loved in Queer As Folk came in doing Ann Sexton's, TO A FRIEND WHO'S WORK HAS COME TO TRIUMPH. And Peter came to Triumph with that performance. He also knew what poet he wanted to do right away so I had to ask him about that on the interview. I won't give away what he said, but it's terrific! I love that all these great actors are all so classical trained and we can talk about the great Shakespeare parts they've performed. I guess I'm still naive but when I see an actor so deeply committed to a character, I think of them as that character. Dumb me! But Peter has a LONG history with the classics! That was clear from his beautiful performance of the Sexton. (An aside for my INTO THE WOOD fans: there wouldn't have been INTO THE WOODS without Sexton!)
Another great friend, James Patrick Stewart was next. I showed him Robert Pinsky's Doctor Frolic. He loved it and agreed to perform it. He was perfect. James is one of the funniest actors I know --quick story: we were doing a reading of a musical I wrote with a big star as the lead. The nameless big star, during one of their scenes together, looked over to James and said, er...er...can you...er...BE LESS FUNNY! James's sense of irony and his unerring comic timing really brought Doctor Frolic off the page. Boy can he act!
Another new friends was the lovely Michael Learned. Ed Dixon set that up. I called Ed the night before and told him I was going to LA and in my best Max Bialystock voice I said, "Who do ya got in LA, Ed?" He said he could ask Michael. I said, YES! Well, Ed called me right back and said Michael agreed instantaneously and the rest is history. Boy was she great. She also knew what she was going to do right away, MILLAY'S An Ancient Gesture. It was sensational. One take and done. SOOOO BEAUTIFUL. I'm thrilled Millay is so represented on this CD. I feel she's fallen out of favor in the last few decades and I know with these performances, she's going to once again be a favorite. Thanks Ed! Thanks Michael!
The last reader of the day was Paul Provenza. Another late booking. I met Paul for 5 seconds at my friend Joan's birthday. I am a huge fan, so it was fun to meet him. And I loved, like everyone, The Aristocrats. So I asked Joan to ask him and yet another actor replied within seconds, YES.
I sent him a few to chose from and he chose Justice's Men at Forty. I knew he would. He read it beautifully. He brought such a deep pathos to it, without sounding heavy, that I was in tears. An aside about Paul and Jason: When I was interviewing Jason earlier, he said Doing Poetry was rather like the film Aristocrats where you can ask 100 actors to do the same poem and you'll get 100 completely different performances. I told him Paul was coming in later. We both smiled. So it was meant to be. I also love the sense of universality Paul brings to our cast. We have stage actors, opera performers, a news caster, people at the beginning of their careers, legends, icons, etc and now one of my favorite stand-ups! Talk about a mix!
So then, with the tapes in hand, I got back on the plane and was in bed by 1 AM.
THANKS AGAIN.
One more day in the studio, one trip to Chicago and we are done!!!
More to come.
Lots of love.
G
PS. I just heard Dame Edna is going to do a poem! Is the Poetry World ready for that. HELL YEAH!
I got up at 4AM, was on the plane at 6, in LAX at 9 and at the studio at 10. Whew.
But this was a wonderful, poetic day.
First in was a great pal, Jason Alexander. We've done tons of stuff together and always have a great time working together. I love him! We kept circling on what to do. Jason loved a few but I had to tell him they were already done. (He really wanted to do ULYSSES and COY MISTRESS but Chris Sarandon and Guy Paul beat him to it!) Just Wednesday night we hit on THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER. And boy was that the right choice. He came in with all the voices down and then after nailing it two times said, I think I want to change the voices and came up with MORE! What a tour de force. Amazing!!!!
Next in were another set of old friends, Beth Howland and Charles Kimbrough. (I adore having my old theater pals make it so huge in TV!) But of course Beth and Charlie will always mean COMPANY to me! (And tons of other fans.) Beth knew she wanted to do Dorothy Parker right away and you've never heard a more wonderfully vulnerable performance of LOVE SONG. Charlie's poet of choice, who shall remain nameless, has an agent who is being way to difficult, so we moved on to Browning's MEETING AT NIGHT. You can "feel" him galloping on a horse, racing to the house of his beloved. Fantastic.
This section of old friends was capped off with our National Treasure, Greg Jbara. I'm so thrilled about his Tony this year. And his speech is etched in my conscience. (I haven't counted the Tony Winners on this CD but there are TONS. And Oscar winners, Emmy Winners, Obie Winner, and just WINNERS.)
He and I knew what he was going to do from the very beginning: BOTTOM'S DREAM. Greg is and always will be the definitive Bottom for me. And he didn't disappoint. Wait until you hear it. He said to me, "Can I do my dream Bottom?" What do you think I said? So we have Greg's Dream Bottom's Dream. Or something like that. I was busy listening to the recording but my pals in the studio said, "You gotta see this." He was performing Bottom full out for the session. So I asked if we could video him doing it again. He said yes and now we have his performance on tape! Wow!
An aside: This group--plus Patti LuPone--, being friends, was the first group I asked to be on this CD. I figured if they were interested, I might have something. Needless to say, they all responded immediately and said yes. I was encouraged to move forward. So this was a very special morning for me and SO WORTH THE TRIP TO LA.
Next in were a bunch of new friends. Peter Paige, who I so loved in Queer As Folk came in doing Ann Sexton's, TO A FRIEND WHO'S WORK HAS COME TO TRIUMPH. And Peter came to Triumph with that performance. He also knew what poet he wanted to do right away so I had to ask him about that on the interview. I won't give away what he said, but it's terrific! I love that all these great actors are all so classical trained and we can talk about the great Shakespeare parts they've performed. I guess I'm still naive but when I see an actor so deeply committed to a character, I think of them as that character. Dumb me! But Peter has a LONG history with the classics! That was clear from his beautiful performance of the Sexton. (An aside for my INTO THE WOOD fans: there wouldn't have been INTO THE WOODS without Sexton!)
Another great friend, James Patrick Stewart was next. I showed him Robert Pinsky's Doctor Frolic. He loved it and agreed to perform it. He was perfect. James is one of the funniest actors I know --quick story: we were doing a reading of a musical I wrote with a big star as the lead. The nameless big star, during one of their scenes together, looked over to James and said, er...er...can you...er...BE LESS FUNNY! James's sense of irony and his unerring comic timing really brought Doctor Frolic off the page. Boy can he act!
Another new friends was the lovely Michael Learned. Ed Dixon set that up. I called Ed the night before and told him I was going to LA and in my best Max Bialystock voice I said, "Who do ya got in LA, Ed?" He said he could ask Michael. I said, YES! Well, Ed called me right back and said Michael agreed instantaneously and the rest is history. Boy was she great. She also knew what she was going to do right away, MILLAY'S An Ancient Gesture. It was sensational. One take and done. SOOOO BEAUTIFUL. I'm thrilled Millay is so represented on this CD. I feel she's fallen out of favor in the last few decades and I know with these performances, she's going to once again be a favorite. Thanks Ed! Thanks Michael!
The last reader of the day was Paul Provenza. Another late booking. I met Paul for 5 seconds at my friend Joan's birthday. I am a huge fan, so it was fun to meet him. And I loved, like everyone, The Aristocrats. So I asked Joan to ask him and yet another actor replied within seconds, YES.
I sent him a few to chose from and he chose Justice's Men at Forty. I knew he would. He read it beautifully. He brought such a deep pathos to it, without sounding heavy, that I was in tears. An aside about Paul and Jason: When I was interviewing Jason earlier, he said Doing Poetry was rather like the film Aristocrats where you can ask 100 actors to do the same poem and you'll get 100 completely different performances. I told him Paul was coming in later. We both smiled. So it was meant to be. I also love the sense of universality Paul brings to our cast. We have stage actors, opera performers, a news caster, people at the beginning of their careers, legends, icons, etc and now one of my favorite stand-ups! Talk about a mix!
So then, with the tapes in hand, I got back on the plane and was in bed by 1 AM.
THANKS AGAIN.
One more day in the studio, one trip to Chicago and we are done!!!
More to come.
Lots of love.
G
PS. I just heard Dame Edna is going to do a poem! Is the Poetry World ready for that. HELL YEAH!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
If it's Monday... (poetry February 1, 2010)
...we must be in the studio recording Poetry.
And a lovely day it was.
Today's first reader was Sam Robards who brought in the shortest poem we have. A mere four lines! But what lines. So size doesn't matter. Seriously, Sam brought more intensity to those four lines than I thought humanly possible. Well done!
My great friend Marc Kudisch came in next. Mark is really in Philadelphia doing Terrance McNally's new play but came in to do this. THANKS MARC. The last time I saw Marc he was in his PJ's doing his hysterical show called, "The Holiday Guys." If you didn't see it, check it out next year. Of course, everyone knows Marc is one of the greatest singers on Broadway, but today he was waxing poetic with Frost's seminal, Fire and Ice. it was chilling. No pun intended.
A new friend, the magnificent Judith Light, came in next. She's a new friend, but of course I've been a fan for years from TV. Who knew she was such a poetry expert. She chose to do Soft Knife by a poet friend of hers, Jonathan Stoler, and we're glad she did. It's a great poem. I look forward in sharing it with everyone on the CD.
Bobby Steggert came next and knocked us out with Naruda's If You Forget Me. It was a deep, heartfelt gorgeous performance. Wonderful.
Another new friend, Romona Mallory had us in stitches with her version of Naps by Shel Silverstein. I saw Ramona in Night Music a few weeks ago and she so knocked me out that I thought I had to get in touch with her and see if she'd read for us. Dreams come true and there she was. Lovely!
TV Icon Barbara Feldon, another major poetry person, graced the studio with her elegant presence. I didn't know Barbara but when I started spreading the word about this project, many people said, "You have to get in touch with Barbara Feldon." And so we did. And boy are we glad. She picked a very personal and sensitive poem by Margaret Atwood. I didn't know Ms. Atwood was a poet. But I'm glad I know it now.
Alice Playten, one of my oldest and dearest friends in NYC, had a wonderful poem. She performed an unpublished poem by Tony Kushner. It was everything one might expect from such a distinguished writer. Complex, surprising, warm, sensitive and GORGEOUS. And what can I say about Alice: she's a national treasure. I'm so glad she came in and read. And I'm so glad she picked that piece. And when she asked Tony for permission, he quickly granted it and said he was thrilled that we were doing it. Are people involved with this project great or what?
Tony Walton brought the project to Melissa Errico and Ciarin O'Reilly. It seemed like a second after they received Tony's e-mail, they e-mailed me to accept. Wow again. In fact Tony is directing Melissa in the Irish Rep's production of Candida where Ciarin is Artistic Director. We're talking about doing a recording of this production. Go GPR Records.
Back to poetry, Melissa read Otherwise by Jane Kenyon. I'm continually amazed at the contemporary poets people are bringing in. I'm thrilled that the audience for this CD will be exposed to all these poets and I'm thrilled that these poets will have some more exposure. Melissa nailed it in two takes. So beautiful.
And talking about beautiful: Ciarin reading Yeats. As you know, just about everyone picked their favorite poem, or one of their favorites. As the album is nearing it's completion, I realized that MY favorite poem was missing. (And God knows I wasn't going to read it with my nasal, Jewish Whine.) But when Tony suggested Ciarin, I thought, Oh wouldn't it be great if he could read Yeats' Cloths of Heaven. He accepted and I WAS in heaven. Of course, as he said, it's many people's favorite poem. He did not disappoint. What music he brought to it. What power. One of my favorites!!!! Thanks.
We ended with another Shel Silverstein delivered by young 9 year old Matthew Schechter. Matthew is one of my favorite kid performers currently starring in Mary Poppins. Before that he was in Waiting for Godot with Nathan Lane. Not bad, huh? Well, he's amazing. Boy can he act. The poem was great. And he's a spectacular singer. Thanks for coming!!!!
So that's today's blog.
More tomorrow.
As always,
THANK YOU!
And a lovely day it was.
Today's first reader was Sam Robards who brought in the shortest poem we have. A mere four lines! But what lines. So size doesn't matter. Seriously, Sam brought more intensity to those four lines than I thought humanly possible. Well done!
My great friend Marc Kudisch came in next. Mark is really in Philadelphia doing Terrance McNally's new play but came in to do this. THANKS MARC. The last time I saw Marc he was in his PJ's doing his hysterical show called, "The Holiday Guys." If you didn't see it, check it out next year. Of course, everyone knows Marc is one of the greatest singers on Broadway, but today he was waxing poetic with Frost's seminal, Fire and Ice. it was chilling. No pun intended.
A new friend, the magnificent Judith Light, came in next. She's a new friend, but of course I've been a fan for years from TV. Who knew she was such a poetry expert. She chose to do Soft Knife by a poet friend of hers, Jonathan Stoler, and we're glad she did. It's a great poem. I look forward in sharing it with everyone on the CD.
Bobby Steggert came next and knocked us out with Naruda's If You Forget Me. It was a deep, heartfelt gorgeous performance. Wonderful.
Another new friend, Romona Mallory had us in stitches with her version of Naps by Shel Silverstein. I saw Ramona in Night Music a few weeks ago and she so knocked me out that I thought I had to get in touch with her and see if she'd read for us. Dreams come true and there she was. Lovely!
TV Icon Barbara Feldon, another major poetry person, graced the studio with her elegant presence. I didn't know Barbara but when I started spreading the word about this project, many people said, "You have to get in touch with Barbara Feldon." And so we did. And boy are we glad. She picked a very personal and sensitive poem by Margaret Atwood. I didn't know Ms. Atwood was a poet. But I'm glad I know it now.
Alice Playten, one of my oldest and dearest friends in NYC, had a wonderful poem. She performed an unpublished poem by Tony Kushner. It was everything one might expect from such a distinguished writer. Complex, surprising, warm, sensitive and GORGEOUS. And what can I say about Alice: she's a national treasure. I'm so glad she came in and read. And I'm so glad she picked that piece. And when she asked Tony for permission, he quickly granted it and said he was thrilled that we were doing it. Are people involved with this project great or what?
Tony Walton brought the project to Melissa Errico and Ciarin O'Reilly. It seemed like a second after they received Tony's e-mail, they e-mailed me to accept. Wow again. In fact Tony is directing Melissa in the Irish Rep's production of Candida where Ciarin is Artistic Director. We're talking about doing a recording of this production. Go GPR Records.
Back to poetry, Melissa read Otherwise by Jane Kenyon. I'm continually amazed at the contemporary poets people are bringing in. I'm thrilled that the audience for this CD will be exposed to all these poets and I'm thrilled that these poets will have some more exposure. Melissa nailed it in two takes. So beautiful.
And talking about beautiful: Ciarin reading Yeats. As you know, just about everyone picked their favorite poem, or one of their favorites. As the album is nearing it's completion, I realized that MY favorite poem was missing. (And God knows I wasn't going to read it with my nasal, Jewish Whine.) But when Tony suggested Ciarin, I thought, Oh wouldn't it be great if he could read Yeats' Cloths of Heaven. He accepted and I WAS in heaven. Of course, as he said, it's many people's favorite poem. He did not disappoint. What music he brought to it. What power. One of my favorites!!!! Thanks.
We ended with another Shel Silverstein delivered by young 9 year old Matthew Schechter. Matthew is one of my favorite kid performers currently starring in Mary Poppins. Before that he was in Waiting for Godot with Nathan Lane. Not bad, huh? Well, he's amazing. Boy can he act. The poem was great. And he's a spectacular singer. Thanks for coming!!!!
So that's today's blog.
More tomorrow.
As always,
THANK YOU!
Poetry 2 February
Please welcome Zoe Caldwell to our group! Thanks to Roberta Maxwell!
Today's update:
It couldn't have started better. Moises Kaufmann came in to read! Moises came in through Donna Lynne Champlin's recommendation and I am really thrilled that he wanted to participate. I love the fact that in addition to "traditional" theatrical performers we have Tony Walton, Newscaster Lynn Sherr and from the opera world Lauren Flanigan (more later) and Michael Okulitch. And now we have Moises. Wow!
Moises read a Tennessee Williams poem. I knew he wrote a bit of poetry but Moises told me about more aobout it. And, LIFE STORIES, which he read, is a gem. With possibly the greatest last line of any poem on the CD. And that's saying something. (Well, maybe ONE of the greatest last lines.) It was a great joy to hear him read and his melodic accent only added to the piece. This was great!
The great Harriet Harris came in and read an amazing Jack Spicer poem. I'm thrilled to have another "beat" poem on the CD. Harriet brought unparalleled depth to this poem. And then on the interview told about a meeting between her mother and Alan Ginsberg. Wonderful.
THEN WE HAD A SCHEDULING GLITCH! The first one and I can't believe it happened. Those of you who know me well, know I'm close with Patti LuPone. In fact Patti was the first person I asked to be on this record. AND WE DIDN'T HEAR HER RING THE BELL! I can't believe it. Patti was in town for the day and we screwed it up! CRAP! The only screw up and it was with one of my oldest pals. NEVER MIND.
Patti is going on tour and I'm going to Chicago to get her on this CD. Can you believe it?!
But then we were back on schedule.
The great opera star, Lauren Flanigan came in next and it was a thrill. First of all, I'm such a fan. More importantly, she read a sensational poet by the late Arnold Weinstein. Lauren worked a great deal with Arnold; I knew him as well. She did Arnold proud. And I believe Arnold was right there in the room with us.
Lauren and GPR Records are talking about doing some CDs together. I can't wait.
Then we had another musical moment: Ann Hampton Calloway came in and was dazzling. Of course! She read a beautiful sonnet by Rilke, from his Orpheus sonnets. Hearing Ann recite about Art and Singing and Music was...well...music. So moving. And then in the interview, Ann improvised a song setting of the poem. AND WE GOT IT ON TAPE! I'm afraid she's going to win the most original interview award! If we had one!
We closed the day with Richard Thomas reading one of my favorites: Hopkins' Spring and Fall. Richard had an amazing affinity with this poem and boy did it show. I have to admit Hopkins is sometimes difficult. Richard soared through the poem and made it as accessible as any poem on the CD.
So, that's the update. We're mixing and mastering. It's going well.
No recording tomorrow. More on Wednesday.
Thanks for reading!!!
G
Today's update:
It couldn't have started better. Moises Kaufmann came in to read! Moises came in through Donna Lynne Champlin's recommendation and I am really thrilled that he wanted to participate. I love the fact that in addition to "traditional" theatrical performers we have Tony Walton, Newscaster Lynn Sherr and from the opera world Lauren Flanigan (more later) and Michael Okulitch. And now we have Moises. Wow!
Moises read a Tennessee Williams poem. I knew he wrote a bit of poetry but Moises told me about more aobout it. And, LIFE STORIES, which he read, is a gem. With possibly the greatest last line of any poem on the CD. And that's saying something. (Well, maybe ONE of the greatest last lines.) It was a great joy to hear him read and his melodic accent only added to the piece. This was great!
The great Harriet Harris came in and read an amazing Jack Spicer poem. I'm thrilled to have another "beat" poem on the CD. Harriet brought unparalleled depth to this poem. And then on the interview told about a meeting between her mother and Alan Ginsberg. Wonderful.
THEN WE HAD A SCHEDULING GLITCH! The first one and I can't believe it happened. Those of you who know me well, know I'm close with Patti LuPone. In fact Patti was the first person I asked to be on this record. AND WE DIDN'T HEAR HER RING THE BELL! I can't believe it. Patti was in town for the day and we screwed it up! CRAP! The only screw up and it was with one of my oldest pals. NEVER MIND.
Patti is going on tour and I'm going to Chicago to get her on this CD. Can you believe it?!
But then we were back on schedule.
The great opera star, Lauren Flanigan came in next and it was a thrill. First of all, I'm such a fan. More importantly, she read a sensational poet by the late Arnold Weinstein. Lauren worked a great deal with Arnold; I knew him as well. She did Arnold proud. And I believe Arnold was right there in the room with us.
Lauren and GPR Records are talking about doing some CDs together. I can't wait.
Then we had another musical moment: Ann Hampton Calloway came in and was dazzling. Of course! She read a beautiful sonnet by Rilke, from his Orpheus sonnets. Hearing Ann recite about Art and Singing and Music was...well...music. So moving. And then in the interview, Ann improvised a song setting of the poem. AND WE GOT IT ON TAPE! I'm afraid she's going to win the most original interview award! If we had one!
We closed the day with Richard Thomas reading one of my favorites: Hopkins' Spring and Fall. Richard had an amazing affinity with this poem and boy did it show. I have to admit Hopkins is sometimes difficult. Richard soared through the poem and made it as accessible as any poem on the CD.
So, that's the update. We're mixing and mastering. It's going well.
No recording tomorrow. More on Wednesday.
Thanks for reading!!!
G
Poetry Thursday 4 February
Dear All,
Today was the last big recording day marathon.
In the last two weeks we've recorded over 60 poems! Not bad, huh?
Here's today:
We started with a new friend, Diedra O'Connell. Reed Birney roped almost the whole cast of his play at Playwrights Horizons to be part of this project. Thanks so much, Reed. Deidra read a beautiful poem by Jim Harrison, Barking. Only about 15 lines, but what a poem and what a performance. I guess size doesn't matter. (Have I used that line already? I've forgotten.)
Another new friend, Chandler Williams came in doing when of my favorite poets, Frank O'Hara. Try as I might, I couldn't get any interest in recording O'Hara's Fire Island, a poem I dearly love. But Chandler read my other favorite by FO'H, The Harbour Master. Chandler brought such warmth and passion to the reading I know O'Hara would be happy. Beautiful. Thank you Frankie for introducing us.
Next a dear old friend, Cynthia Nixon, came by to perform. I've known Cynthia since we both were 16 or 17. And while the world knows her as Miranda, she will always be Lydie Breeze to me, a play I wrote the music for that Louis Malle directed. One of my favorite experiences. And I also remember Cynthia as Juliet. Anyway, Cynthia offered us two poems and we got to chose. Hard choice. First was the famous Mending Wall by Robert Frost. I always thought that poem was hard to get into, but Cynthia opened the verbal door as wide as possible and I understood and enjoyed the poem more than I ever had. And then she did a Vespers by AA Milnes. So sweet. I don't know which to pick! But I love problems like that!
Another great friend, Douglas Sills did a Paul Monette poem. I had a lovely conversation with Judith Light about her relationship with Monette and I was thrilled that Douglas picked that poem. He gave a very, very moving interview about how he knew the person the poem was dedicated to.
Douglas gave a herculean performance. It's a rather long poem about writing poetry and what it means to be a poet, but Douglas made every word count in such a magnificent way. I was honored to have him in.
The last person of the day was Carole Shelley. She's not on e-mail, so I can gush a bit and she won't get embarrassed. I love her. I've always loved her. She knocks me off my feet. There. I've said it. What a classy lady; what an actress. She wanted to read a poem by Shelley for obvious reason. So I, in my exuberance, suggested my favorite Shelley, Composed Upon Westminster Bridge. She loves the poem as well, But gently pointed out it was Wordsworth not Shelley. Mr. Poetry-Mavin Producer was put RIGHT in his place! No matter. We recorded that poem. I've set this poem to music. I now wish I heard Carole's performance before I set it because she revealed nuances of the poem that I never heard. But at least, she can share the right way to perform it with the world!
Well, now that the marathons are over, I will concentrate on the Web Site, the bios, the liner notes, etc. etc.
Once we have the site up, I'll be asking all of you to submit to us a jpeg picture and a 100 Word Bio. Start thinking about that now and I'll tell you where to send it and when we need it.
I'll still send notes when I have info I want to share.
Especially about the drop party. (That's the record term for opening night party!)
It's been an honor to work with you all.
Thanks to my old friends and my new ones.
This has been the most wonderful project I have ever worked on.
Gratias.
Today was the last big recording day marathon.
In the last two weeks we've recorded over 60 poems! Not bad, huh?
Here's today:
We started with a new friend, Diedra O'Connell. Reed Birney roped almost the whole cast of his play at Playwrights Horizons to be part of this project. Thanks so much, Reed. Deidra read a beautiful poem by Jim Harrison, Barking. Only about 15 lines, but what a poem and what a performance. I guess size doesn't matter. (Have I used that line already? I've forgotten.)
Another new friend, Chandler Williams came in doing when of my favorite poets, Frank O'Hara. Try as I might, I couldn't get any interest in recording O'Hara's Fire Island, a poem I dearly love. But Chandler read my other favorite by FO'H, The Harbour Master. Chandler brought such warmth and passion to the reading I know O'Hara would be happy. Beautiful. Thank you Frankie for introducing us.
Next a dear old friend, Cynthia Nixon, came by to perform. I've known Cynthia since we both were 16 or 17. And while the world knows her as Miranda, she will always be Lydie Breeze to me, a play I wrote the music for that Louis Malle directed. One of my favorite experiences. And I also remember Cynthia as Juliet. Anyway, Cynthia offered us two poems and we got to chose. Hard choice. First was the famous Mending Wall by Robert Frost. I always thought that poem was hard to get into, but Cynthia opened the verbal door as wide as possible and I understood and enjoyed the poem more than I ever had. And then she did a Vespers by AA Milnes. So sweet. I don't know which to pick! But I love problems like that!
Another great friend, Douglas Sills did a Paul Monette poem. I had a lovely conversation with Judith Light about her relationship with Monette and I was thrilled that Douglas picked that poem. He gave a very, very moving interview about how he knew the person the poem was dedicated to.
Douglas gave a herculean performance. It's a rather long poem about writing poetry and what it means to be a poet, but Douglas made every word count in such a magnificent way. I was honored to have him in.
The last person of the day was Carole Shelley. She's not on e-mail, so I can gush a bit and she won't get embarrassed. I love her. I've always loved her. She knocks me off my feet. There. I've said it. What a classy lady; what an actress. She wanted to read a poem by Shelley for obvious reason. So I, in my exuberance, suggested my favorite Shelley, Composed Upon Westminster Bridge. She loves the poem as well, But gently pointed out it was Wordsworth not Shelley. Mr. Poetry-Mavin Producer was put RIGHT in his place! No matter. We recorded that poem. I've set this poem to music. I now wish I heard Carole's performance before I set it because she revealed nuances of the poem that I never heard. But at least, she can share the right way to perform it with the world!
Well, now that the marathons are over, I will concentrate on the Web Site, the bios, the liner notes, etc. etc.
Once we have the site up, I'll be asking all of you to submit to us a jpeg picture and a 100 Word Bio. Start thinking about that now and I'll tell you where to send it and when we need it.
I'll still send notes when I have info I want to share.
Especially about the drop party. (That's the record term for opening night party!)
It's been an honor to work with you all.
Thanks to my old friends and my new ones.
This has been the most wonderful project I have ever worked on.
Gratias.
99-100 February 9, 2010
We're just filling in now with the last few and talk about filling in!
Today started with the amazing Maria Tucci who came to us via Chandler Williams! THANKS! Maria did such a sensitive and delicate reading of Yeats's A Prayer for My Daughter. TUrns out (via the interivew) Maria used to recite that to her ouwn daughter. Not surprising that she gave such an honest performance. I'm also please to say Yeats, one of my all time favorites is now the second most represented poet on the CD. After the Bard.
And speaking of the Bard. The one and only...the elegant...the gorgeous...here she is boys, here she is world... Christine Baranksi came in and did the famous Helena speech from Midsummer Night's Dream. I have to admit I rather suggested this to her out of a selfish reason: her performance as Helena in the park was the greatest Helena I had ever seen. I was thrilled when she told me it was one of her happiest experiences. The perfermance today exceeded all expectations. In fact we have three completely different versions of Helena on tape. Brilliant. And the interview. She talked all about her classical training and the roles she played. I can't wait for people across America who only know her from lighter roles, see this interview. Fantastic.
The day closed (it was short, as a mentioned, just fitting people in) with my dear friend Florence Henderson. I wrote Florence's one woman show for her and I also am the MD when she performs so I know FH really well. We tried to pick the poem together, the perfect poem for her, but it was my pal Alex in San Francisco who came up with the great choice: Longellow's The Day is Done. It turns out, Greg and Mike Brady performed that poem on THE BRADY BUNCH!!! In a school show, with comical results. I honestly don't remember that episode, but Florence's performance was anything but comical. It was a deep, heartfelt, honest reading of a gorgeous poem. A great way to end the day.
One more day in NYC, one day in LA and then we are in the can. (Oh, and Patti in Chicago!)
Press release is done. Onwards
Today started with the amazing Maria Tucci who came to us via Chandler Williams! THANKS! Maria did such a sensitive and delicate reading of Yeats's A Prayer for My Daughter. TUrns out (via the interivew) Maria used to recite that to her ouwn daughter. Not surprising that she gave such an honest performance. I'm also please to say Yeats, one of my all time favorites is now the second most represented poet on the CD. After the Bard.
And speaking of the Bard. The one and only...the elegant...the gorgeous...here she is boys, here she is world... Christine Baranksi came in and did the famous Helena speech from Midsummer Night's Dream. I have to admit I rather suggested this to her out of a selfish reason: her performance as Helena in the park was the greatest Helena I had ever seen. I was thrilled when she told me it was one of her happiest experiences. The perfermance today exceeded all expectations. In fact we have three completely different versions of Helena on tape. Brilliant. And the interview. She talked all about her classical training and the roles she played. I can't wait for people across America who only know her from lighter roles, see this interview. Fantastic.
The day closed (it was short, as a mentioned, just fitting people in) with my dear friend Florence Henderson. I wrote Florence's one woman show for her and I also am the MD when she performs so I know FH really well. We tried to pick the poem together, the perfect poem for her, but it was my pal Alex in San Francisco who came up with the great choice: Longellow's The Day is Done. It turns out, Greg and Mike Brady performed that poem on THE BRADY BUNCH!!! In a school show, with comical results. I honestly don't remember that episode, but Florence's performance was anything but comical. It was a deep, heartfelt, honest reading of a gorgeous poem. A great way to end the day.
One more day in NYC, one day in LA and then we are in the can. (Oh, and Patti in Chicago!)
Press release is done. Onwards
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