Longfellow Reads Longfellow: Song of Hiawatha

This is the poem most responsible for Longfellow's broad reputation in his time and in our cultural history, perhaps the most popular long poem ever written. This excerpt is from the introduction, an invocation to the world of the Native American and to this recording.

This Henry Wadsworth Longfellow classic is read by Dr. Layne Longfellow to music by Michael Hoppe.

Find out more about Longfellow Read Longfellow at http://www.laynelongfellow.com/poetry

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hiawatha
• Native American
• Gitchee Gumee
• Longfellow
• American Indian
• American History
• poetry
• spoken word
• words with music
• Nature
• Lake Superior
• animated stills
• Hoppe
• flute
• layne longfellow

[LayneAllen]

I modify the original text slightly. As Billy Collins says it, "Audiences teach you the difference between what reads well on the page and what reads well to the ear."

[LayneAllen]

Your point is apt; well taken. I acknowledge adaptations fully on my "Longfellow Reads Longfellow" CD. I confess it did not occur to me to be sure that information transferred to the YouTube version. I'm not especially adept at this medium, but I'll add it if I am able.  Layne Longfellow

[LayneAllen]

"...my variations [are] minimal, never to alter the intent or the content or the feeling, but to render the writing more amenable to the oral reading."

"I modify the original text slightly. As Billy Collins says it, "Audiences teach you the difference between what reads well on the page and what reads well to the ear"

These are quotes from below on this page.. My readings intend to generate the response in today's listener that Longfellow created in the 19th century reader. Check my website.

[4realexpat]

If you can, listen to Robert Powell's reading of an excerpt..It was on BBC radio 4[england] some 17 years back.

Wonderful voice

[mpinedar]

@LayneAllen I have very much enjoyed this adaptation. Thanks!

[CarolPetunia]

This is extraordinarily fine work -- but I would feel a lot better about it if you included a statement right up front that editions have been made to the original poem. It strikes me as disrespectful to alter a work without acknowledgement. But as I say... it's excellent.

[MiataBRG]

another awful reading. Why are people so willing to destroy the poems natural rhythm?

[LayneAllen]

@KuraixOji I intended my variations to be minimal, never to alter the intent or the content or the feeling, but to render the writing more amenable to the oral reading (see my Billy Collins quote above). LL

[KuraixOji]

@LayneAllen ah ok thanks. didnt know how much you had changed so i couldnt acuratley find it

[LayneAllen]

@KuraixOji It is the very opening, the Prelude, the Preamble