Pacifica Radio Series on Ezra Pound: discussion of Ezra Pound’s Le Testement de Villon by Charles Amirkhanian, Robert Hughes, and Hugh Kenner, 1973 Tape1 of 2 #507a

CLASSIFICATION

Swallow ID:
5230
Partner Institution:
Simon Fraser University
Source Collection Title:
Reading in BC Collection
Source Collection ID:
MsC 199
Source Collection Description:
Reading in BC collection was assembled during the late 1970s and ‘80s. There are approximately 1000 tapes in this collection. It consists of the recordings of Canadian and American writers, mostly poets, reading poems, talking, being interviewed, participating in panel discussions, and so on. Most of the recordings were made in BC, but there are some made elsewhere in Canada or the USA. Quite a few of these recordings are unique copies, not to be found elsewhere.
Source Collection Contributing Unit:
SFU Library
Source Collection URI:
Source Collection Image URL:
Sub Series Title:
Reading in BC Collection

ITEM DESCRIPTION

Title:
Pacifica Radio Series on Ezra Pound: discussion of Ezra Pound’s Le Testement de Villon by Charles Amirkhanian, Robert Hughes, and Hugh Kenner, 1973 Tape1 of 2 #507a
Title Source:
J-card and inventory
Language:
English
Production Context:
Studio recording
Identifiers:
[]

Rights

Rights:
Copyright Not Evaluated (CNE)

CREATORS

Name:
Pound, Ezra
Dates:
1885-1972
URL:
http://viaf.org/viaf/24606774
Name:
Amirkhanian, Charles
Dates:
1945-
URL:
http://viaf.org/viaf/7489149108420668780004
Name:
Hughes, Robert
Dates:
1938-2012
URL:
http://viaf.org/viaf/61574402
Name:
Kenner, Hughes
Dates:
1923-2003
URL:
http://viaf.org/viaf/106966232

CONTRIBUTORS

MATERIAL DESCRIPTION

Image:
Image
Recording Type:
Analogue
AV Type:
Audio
Material Designation:
Cassette
Physical Composition:
Magnetic Tape
Storage Capacity:
T01:30:40
Extent:
1/8 inch
Track Configuration:
2 track
Playback Mode:
Stereo
Generations:
Second generation from Reel-to-Real
Sound Quality:
Excellent
Physical Condition:
Very Good
Other Physical Description:
Black and white clear jewel case with J-card

DIGITAL FILE DESCRIPTION

Channel Field:
Stereo
Sample Rate:
44.1 kHz
Duration:
T00:30:21
Size:
45.6 MB
Bitrate:
32 bit
Encoding:
WAV for master files and .MP3 for online files
Channel Field:
Stereo
Sample Rate:
44.1 kHz
Duration:
T00:30:20
Size:
43.5 MB
Bitrate:
32 bit
Encoding:
WAV for master files and .MP3 for online files

Dates

Date:
1973
Type:
Performance Date
Source:
Inventory

LOCATION

CONTENT

Contents:
Side Track No. Comments One Introduction to, and discussion of, Ezra Pound’s Le Testement de Villon 000 Introduction to the opera (for the opera itself, see tape #506) Robert Hughes, Charles Amirkhanian, Hugh Kenner discuss the opera 017 Robert Hughes (the conductor) synopsizes the plot 030 Charles Amirkhaman (Music Director at KPFA, Berkeley) asks Hughes about the musical structure of the work 047 Hugh Kenner compares Pound, Stravinsky, and T.D. Eliot 051 The cost of the opera is introduced (see notes in tape #506) 062 Announcer introduces the resumed discussion 074 Hughes discusses the critical reaction to the opera, the difficulties of performing it, and the advantages of modern recording techniques 096 Kenner describes his reaction to finally hearing a good performance of Le Testament de Villon 109 Hughes talks about the problem of the opera’s not having much physical action and the audience’s lack of ability to understand the French of the Villon poem 123 Kenner’s The Pound Era is discussed; Hughes speaks about techniques of expression used in Pound’s Cantos which are also used by Kenner. Hughes then talks about the relationship of Pound’s poetry to music and vice versa 203 History of Pound’s involvement with music 223 Pound is quoted: “I pointed out that music and poetry had been an alliance in the twelfth century, that the divorce of the two arts had been to the advantage of neither…” This opinion is discussed 265 Amirkhanian reads from an article by George Antheil (who edited the opera in 1923) which assesses Pound’s music 317 Pound’s lack of knowledge of harmony, etc., is discussed and compared to Stravinski’s lack of musical “hang-ups” 360 Hughes defends Pound’s being opinionated and “bombastic” on the subject of music 400 Hughes discusses Pound’s original manuscript of the score, and some of the problems of performing it as written 460 Robert Browning’s use of musical notation as part of some of his later poems is mentioned by Hughes; it is pointed out that Pound also does this in the Pisan Cantos 485 The future of Pound’s opera as a lasting work is discussed, as is the inability of earlier orchestras to play such a complex work 586 Pound’s “pan-cultural” approach to music and literature is discussed 655 Hughes discusses how he gets musical inspiration for his own compositions from Pound’s writings 734 Kenner talks about the “old fashioned” kind of scholarship needed to understand Pound’s works 790 Kenner expresses the opinion that Le Testement may have been a “tryout” for the Cantos
Notes:
SFU BC Readings formatting

NOTES

Type:
General
Note:
Liner Notes: This Tape contains an introduction to the opera (Band 1) and a discussion of the opera among Charles Amirkhanian (the Music Director at KPFA, Berkeley), Robert Hughes (the Conductor) and Hugh Kenner Side 1: 29:05 Side 2: 26:08

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