I agree with Stephen Adams that a CD accompanying the *Cantos*
would be a useful thing to have, but unless sponsored by NPF it is
unlikely ever to attract a recording company. Some dozen years ago, when
I was working on my dissertation, I paid a professor of music to perform
Munch's setting of Janequin's "Chant des Oiseaux," and we recorded the
performance. It's nice to have, but frankly I'd be even more interested
in having Pound's various readings of his poetry put on CD. We (this
list) discussed this matter a couple of years ago; but we're all so busy
no one has had time to get to it. I still wonder why the holders of
copyright who continue to issue cassette recordings don't bring them out
on disc, so that every track can be instantly accessible in the
classroom. Cassettes require rewinding and wasted time trying to find
particular tracks, and decay with astonishing rapidity.
Cheers,
Michael
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Dear Akitoshi--
As one who has contemplated Pound's musical life for some time,
I can
safely say that Rummel's settings of Pound have never been
recorded, nor
has any of Rummel's original music to my knowledge. Rummel was
much more
famous in his day as a concert pianist, and I understand a CD
reissue of
some of his 78rpm discs may be in the making.
Your suggestion of a CD to accompany the Cantos is interesting,
though the
interest is probably highly specialized. Janequin's "Chanson
des Oiseaux"
has been recorded a number of times, however, so the search is
not
hopeless. But it has not been recorded as a violin solo--that
is, in the
form in which EP prints it, so nostalgically recalling Olga
Rudge's
playing.
I am curious about your presenter's use of the term
"soundscape"? As far
as I know, this word was coined by Pound's musical editor,
Murray Schafer,
and I have used it myself. Tell me more (either privately, or
if you
think the list will be interested, by list).
Stephen Adams
Department of English
University of Western Ontario
London, Canada N6A-3K7
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