lectures & readings

VSQ Tribute to Dazed and Confused is available now: http://vsq.io/iTuneDC

Vitamin String Quartet Performs Alice Cooper's "School’s Out"

The Cinematic Orchestra - Colours

Transcript, context, and related artwork: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/02/17/dfw-leadership-debbie-millman/

TRANSCRIPT / DETAILS

David Foster Wallace on leadership, read by Debbie Millman

Recorded at TED 2014. Transcript and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/03/20/neil-gaiman-ghost-stories/

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Neil Gaiman on why there is no such thing as "children's" books

Vogelkamer

Kirsty Law - SHIFT - Riddles feat. WOUNDED KNEE

'Imaginational Anthem vol. 7' Available February 17, 2015

'Trees Return to Soil' by Simon Scott

Annotations and transcribed highlights: http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/06/16/neil-gaiman-how-stories-last

Recorded at the Long Now Foundation (http://longnow.org/) on June 9, 2015. 

Follow @https://soundcloud.com/longnow and subscribe to the podcast of their excellent seminars on long-term thinking on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminars-about-long-term-thinking/id186908455?mt=2

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Neil Gaiman on how stories last

Cover #22 from the series "Songs I Love" by Piers Faccini
Free download: http://www.unlock.fm/4g7

Given my love of her writing, I really should have already covered a Joni Mitchell song in the series by now. As a lyricist she's in a hallowed place all of her own and I can't think of anyone else who writes with such invention and grace. Little Green almost hurts to sing. It tells the story of the daughter Joni Mitchell gave up for adoption. One can only imagine the torment of a young mother having to give up her child and it's tempting too as the verses unfold to question her for doing so. Perhaps that's what makes it such a moving piece, taking us as listeners, deep into complex and ambiguous emotional waters where compassion, sorrow and forgiveness can mingle? I wonder how Joni's biological daughter feels about the song, would she have preferred it to have remain unwritten, unsung? It makes me think that writers are inevitably selfish beings as nothing is ever off limits for them. Shining a light on events that others might rather hide  is hard for the people that inspire the stories. But despite the sorrow Little Green calls up, I have no doubt the rest us are better off for hearing it.  The beautiful guitar part here was played by my friend the South African Guy Buttery. We met when I toured South Africa in 2008 with Nibs van der Spuy, I've collaborated on a few songs of Guy's over the years,  including one on his next album, I encourage you to discover his amazing music, he has a crowdfunding thing going on for his next album, I hear guitar buffs can even bid for one of his guitars! http://igg.me/at/guybuttery/x

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Franchement, vu comme j’adore ses compositions, il y a longtemps que j’aurais pu inclure une chanson de Joni Mitchell  dans la série!  Comme parolière, elle évolue dans une sorte de sanctuaire qui n’appartient qu’à elle – je cherche en vain quelqu’un qui écrive avec autant de grâce et de sincérité.  ‘Little Green’  est une chanson très sensible, poignante. Elle raconte l’histoire de la fille que Joni Mitchell a dû abandonner et confier à l’adoption. On peut imaginer les tourments d’une jeune mère acculée à laisser son enfant ; mais au fil de l’histoire, on a aussi envie de l’interpeller sur son geste… C’est sans doute ce qui rend ce récit si touchant, et qui plonge ceux qui écoutent dans les hauts fonds des émotions complexes et profondes, là où peuvent se fondre la compassion, la tristesse, et le pardon… Je me demande ce que ressent la fille biologique de Joni à l’écoute de cette chanson : aurait-elle préféré qu’elle demeure non-écrite,  jamais chantée ? Je réalise que les auteurs sont en fait des êtres assez égoïstes, qui ne se posent aucune limite. Porter au jour des événements que d’autres préfèreraient cacher n’est pas sans conséquences douloureuses pour les personnes qui inspirent ces récits. Malgré la tristesse que ‘Little Green’ éveille, je suis convaincu qu’une autre part de nous est heureuse de l’écouter.  
Sur cette reprise, la superbe partition de guitare est jouée par mon ami Sud-Africain Guy Buttery.  Nous nous sommes rencontrés lors de ma tournée là-bas en 2008 avec Nibs van der Spuy. Je vous invite à découvrir son incroyable univers musical. J’ai contribué à quelques chansons de Guy ces dernières années, y compris pour son prochain album. Il y a une campagne de financement participatif en cours sur ce projet, et je crois même qu’il y a des enchères possibles pour une de ses guitares. Avis aux amateurs ! http://igg.me/at/guybuttery/x
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Order book/cd 'Songs I Love' vol.1: http://shop.beatingdrumrecords.com

Also available on:
http://iTunes: smarturl.it/songsilove1
http://Spotify: spoti.fi/1jbGOfl
http://Deezer: www.deezer.com/album/8050372
http://Google Play: bit.ly/songsiloveplay
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Piers Faccini : http://www.facebook.com/PiersFacciniMusic
Beating Drum : http://www.beatingdrumrecords.com

FREE DOWNLOAD

Piers Faccini - Little Green [Joni Mitchell Cover](Songs I Love #22)

I first heard this in the film Youth, where Mark Kozelek makes an appearance! It's a beautiful and special film, catch it if you have the chance :). 

Onward - Yes / Mark Kozelek - Cover

Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/04/23/ursula-k-le-guin-hymn-to-time-janna-levin/

POEM TEXT / CONTEXT

Astrophysicist Janna Levin reads "Hymn to Time" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/04/16/zadie-smith-reads-frank-ohara/

Zadie Smith reads "Animals" by Frank O'Hara

Background and context: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/03/18/tolstoy-reading-rare-1909-recording/

The fascinating story of A Calendar of Wisdom, with selected highlights: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/03/15/a-calendar-of-wisdom-tolstoy/

Leo Tolstoy reads from "A Calendar of Wisdom," 1909

NEC Jazz Orchestra featuring NEC alumnus Brian Landrus, baritone sax.

Brookmeyer - Celebration Suite, I. Jig

Excerpt from Orwell's fantastic 1946 essay outlining his 11 "golden" rules of tea perfection: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/14/george-orwell-a-nice-cup-of-tea/

George Orwell on how to make the perfect cup of tea

An inspiring commencement address delivered to the graduating class at San Jose State University. Transcript and discussion: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/

Neil Gaiman on how stories last

brainpicker

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