CLASSIFICATION
Swallow ID:
8337
Partner Institution:
University of Calgary
Source Collection Title:
Earle Birney fonds
Source Collection ID:
Source Collection Contributing Unit:
University of Calgary, Archives and Special Collections
Source Collection URI:
Source Collection Image URL:
ITEM DESCRIPTION
Title:
Earle Birney reading an anti-Christmas poem written for Gaudy Night at Massey College
Title Source:
Transcribed from the artifact
Title Note:
Label of recording title. Label reading "also: Mens Sportwear Dept; Oil Refinery". Box stamped JS 0X6.
Language:
English
Production Context:
Studio recording
Identifiers:
[7.2]
Rights
Rights:
The Public Domain Mark (PDM)
CREATORS
Name:
Birney, Earle
Dates:
1904-1995
CONTRIBUTORS
MATERIAL DESCRIPTION
Recording Type:
Analogue
AV Type:
Audio
Material Designation:
Reel to Reel
Physical Composition:
Magnetic Tape
Extent:
1/4 inch
Playing Speed:
7 1/2 ips
Tape Brand:
CBC Radio - Canada
Sound Quality:
Excellent
Physical Condition:
Good
DIGITAL FILE DESCRIPTION
Duration:
T00:23:25
Size:
385.76 MB
Dates
Date:
1966
Type:
Performance Date
Notes:
Date taken from creation dates listed for item level descriptions in archival finding aid for the Earle Birney fonds Item number 7.2
LOCATION
Address:
4, Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue:
Massey College, University of Toronto
Latitude:
[43.6649588]
Longitude:
[-79.39736752484228]
CONTENT
Contents:
Earle Birney
[00:00:00]
Reads "Anti-Christmas poem".
Earle Birney
[00:12:50]
Reads "Saved by Santa from a Poet's Death: A True Story".
Earle Birney
[00:20:12]
Reads "Eaton's Men's Sportswear Department".
Earle Birney
[00:21:10]
Reads "Oil Refinery".
Notes:
Title based on contents of file.
- Studio recording of an Anti-Christmas poem requested for Gaudy Night at Massey College, where Birney is in residence.
- Mixture of plagiarism, found texts accounted and unaccounted for.
- Opens with a carol from the 16th century, which Birney reads in Middle English. Birney indicates when he is reading quotes. Includes Gaudy Night prayer.
- Birney also reads holiday prose poem "Saved by Santa from a Poet's Death: A True Story," and two other poems "Eaton's Men's Sportswear Department" and "Oil Refinery." “Oil Refinery” was written after Birney spent the night in an oil refinery on the Pacific coast, and it is cast in Anglo-Saxon meter and style.
NOTES
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