Shucks! Well you can't please everyone. I did train as an actor so maybe those rhetorical pauses and the ingrained clarity of diction are more insidiously counter-productive than I thought. Thanks for comment - always useful. See if you have the same reaction to a more personal piece for example, The Insight Giver?
@Caspar33 On the basis of a single, critical comment I wouldn't fret a lot. Your critic (and mine) clearly loves this poem, and has a pretty trenchant opinion as to how it should "sound". Personally, I enjoyed your reading hugely - and of course the magic and genius of this work is its susceptibility to interpretation, whether in performance or literary analysis. I'm tempted to invite supersesqui to post his or her own performance - but that might be a bit too naughty ;). It's great to debate!
@AntPDC I've been hunting for the quote from one of the Fools in Shakespeare's plays where he says that my friends only tell me what I want to hear whereas my enemies (critics) are more useful friends as they often speak the truth.
It ain't Lear, nor Touchstone or Feste...but no matter, that's more or less the gist. Anyway thanks for your thoughts and challenge! I guess I always have in mind those for whom English is not their first language. All the best.
I thought I was familiar with this poem until I heard your reading, great work. You really brought out the atmosphere here. Those last two lines and really terrific.
@andrewnorris1 Very gracious of you to say so. Thanks. I think I see it most as a believer who is shortly to become a non-believer. But it really is a great piece - the sort of work that keeps on opening doors!
@keanghiero . Nice of you to say that K ! The BBC I think prefer poetry to be cultured and nicely read. They are nervous about readings which could unsettle and get under the skin of their listeners. That is what I am at least always TRYING to do. Poetry is a necessary weapon to oppose complancency and waking-sleep, to fight injustice with simple truths and oppose the status quo when and wherever it behaves like a tyrant , which is usually all the time!
Very well read :-) I hope you do a lot more poetry readings as its hard to find my favourite poems read out as well as this :-)
dragonheart130 2 months ago
@dragonheart130 Thanks, yes you will find a great deal of poetry, some classics and some of my own on the site. Hope you enjoy.
Caspar33 2 months ago
I've subscribed to your channel so I'll be doing a lot of listening :) I actually like your style of reading :-)
dragonheart130 2 months ago
Shucks! Well you can't please everyone. I did train as an actor so maybe those rhetorical pauses and the ingrained clarity of diction are more insidiously counter-productive than I thought. Thanks for comment - always useful. See if you have the same reaction to a more personal piece for example, The Insight Giver?
Caspar33 8 months ago
@Caspar33 On the basis of a single, critical comment I wouldn't fret a lot. Your critic (and mine) clearly loves this poem, and has a pretty trenchant opinion as to how it should "sound". Personally, I enjoyed your reading hugely - and of course the magic and genius of this work is its susceptibility to interpretation, whether in performance or literary analysis. I'm tempted to invite supersesqui to post his or her own performance - but that might be a bit too naughty ;). It's great to debate!
AntPDC 8 months ago
@AntPDC I've been hunting for the quote from one of the Fools in Shakespeare's plays where he says that my friends only tell me what I want to hear whereas my enemies (critics) are more useful friends as they often speak the truth.
It ain't Lear, nor Touchstone or Feste...but no matter, that's more or less the gist. Anyway thanks for your thoughts and challenge! I guess I always have in mind those for whom English is not their first language. All the best.
Caspar33 8 months ago
Sorry, but this sounds just like an old ham overperforming and losing the plot.
Too many effect pauses and over pronounced words.
Not being horrible, but this in one of my favourite poems being mauled.
supersesqui 8 months ago
This is read so well that I checked your profile to see if you were a professional actor, and what do you know.......
Puts my whisper version to shame!
muskndusk 10 months ago
@muskndusk Thanks for that. But acting was never my forte, prefer to direct others or mess around with poems!
This is such a terrific piece though - it has everything.
Caspar33 10 months ago
Very good, indeed.
astat1 1 year ago
@astat1 Thanks for saying that. Loved your Lawrence Krauss post. Cheers!
Caspar33 1 year ago
@SeaSongs999 Thanks for that. Best wishes.
Caspar33 1 year ago
Amazing reading! My mother used to read this to me. I was so glad to hear this work again. Thank you.
loctia1 1 year ago
I thought I was familiar with this poem until I heard your reading, great work. You really brought out the atmosphere here. Those last two lines and really terrific.
andrewnorris1 1 year ago
@andrewnorris1 Very gracious of you to say so. Thanks. I think I see it most as a believer who is shortly to become a non-believer. But it really is a great piece - the sort of work that keeps on opening doors!
Caspar33 1 year ago
Nicely performed, Fred, you are a talent. Your voice is perfect for a poetry program on the BBC radio.
5*
all the best
Kean
keanghiero 1 year ago
@keanghiero . Nice of you to say that K ! The BBC I think prefer poetry to be cultured and nicely read. They are nervous about readings which could unsettle and get under the skin of their listeners. That is what I am at least always TRYING to do. Poetry is a necessary weapon to oppose complancency and waking-sleep, to fight injustice with simple truths and oppose the status quo when and wherever it behaves like a tyrant , which is usually all the time!
Caspar33 1 year ago