I very much enjoyed your analysis, Mr. Stevens! Brimming with insight, and gave me pause for thought regarding several aspects of deeper meaning that I had not previously considered. Wonderful!
Totally briliant! Absolutely loooved it!!!. You made it so easy to understand! I'm so happy I find this video!. Only 46 videos?! you should do more!!!. Brilliant work sir, you were perfect!.
You're welcome. And your point about reading styles is well-taken. I prefer a less dramatic delivery than perhaps mdzialo enjoys. I admit, though, that I don't know what it means to read like a teacher. I do know that my style of reading poetry does not appeal to everyone.
I watched this not for any class, but my own interest in poetry. Revisiting pieces from college many years ago, I find now as I am older I can slow down to appreciate them without rushing to write a paper. This was wonderful, you are a gem within youtube. I look forward to embracing more literature by watching your videos. Thank you for taking the time to make this and explain the poem in detail.
Okay, I finally got around to listening to this. Why the Pachelbel Canon in the background? The poem has power enough on its own, and background music gives it a sappiness that a good reading would want to suppress.
Ralph Stevens The difference between what you have read aloud and the "dramatic" reading that I like is the work of the artist. The mind boggles when one sees the treasures that the artist can find and revel for you in this great work. I am glad that we don't disagree about the reading part. You must know that a lot of people must evidently like background music in dramatic productions. As an example, Lawrence Olivier and I are not bothered at all by adding music to his productions of Hamlet or Henry V although the words are the thing that draw us into it. Pachelbel's Canon is one of the most important works ever written. It is admired for its serene yet joyful character. I imagine that whoever made the video thought he would associate the wonderful music with the song of a nightingale, obviously, and that is why he added it. I hardly hear the music, as I find the reading so compelling and illuminating. In my opinion, bad word inflection, word stretching, choppiness, gives it a sappiness that a good reading would want to suppress.
Thank you, Ian Wild. When I read a poem I listen to what I hear in it, not to what I think others want to hear. If to some I sound less like an artist and more like a teacher, so be it. I leave it to them to explain what they mean.
Thanks again. I know what you mean by "emoting" although I've never heard it called that. I certainly agree with you, and would add only that a "conversational tone" doesn't preclude emotion, reading with feeling, whether in acting or simply in reading lines, as I do. Part of the challenge is reading in a way that respects the emotional power inherent in the words themselves, and in the music, the rhythm, of the line. Often the overly dramatic, emoting, actually obscures, rather than expresses, the emotion. I also, by temperament, prefer an understated tone. And I gather from what you write that you understand the emotional power of understatement, in the tone of voice as in the words.
In ancient days by emperor and clown (not: emperors and clowns). No disrespect. I like your reading and analysis. But we should always be careful to read the correct word.
Your explanation of the ending was very helpful, as was the rest of the talk. Thank you for posting this.
I very much enjoyed your analysis, Mr. Stevens! Brimming with insight, and gave me pause for thought regarding several aspects of deeper meaning that I had not previously considered. Wonderful!
Totally briliant! Absolutely loooved it!!!. You made it so easy to understand! I'm so happy I find this video!. Only 46 videos?! you should do more!!!. Brilliant work sir, you were perfect!.
Your reading is amazing sir ! Thank you.
Thank you, sir!
You're welcome. And your point about reading styles is well-taken. I prefer a less dramatic delivery than perhaps mdzialo enjoys. I admit, though, that I don't know what it means to read like a teacher. I do know that my style of reading poetry does not appeal to everyone.
Thank you for a great job.
I watched this not for any class, but my own interest in poetry. Revisiting pieces from college many years ago, I find now as I am older I can slow down to appreciate them without rushing to write a paper. This was wonderful, you are a gem within youtube. I look forward to embracing more literature by watching your videos. Thank you for taking the time to make this and explain the poem in detail.
You're most welcome. Thanks for the encouragement.
Quite right, Mr. Paradise, and thanks for pointing out the mistake. I shall have to practice for future readings!
Good job! But why read it like a teacher, so choppy? Compare your version with the artist's version here: www.lonelypeaksrecords.com/page/1
It might sound "choppy" to you because he's reading for understanding, not as a dramatic performance.Y'know? :)
Okay, I finally got around to listening to this. Why the Pachelbel Canon in the background? The poem has power enough on its own, and background music gives it a sappiness that a good reading would want to suppress.
Ralph Stevens The difference between what you have read aloud and the "dramatic" reading that I like is the work of the artist. The mind boggles when one sees the treasures that the artist can find and revel for you in this great work. I am glad that we don't disagree about the reading part.
You must know that a lot of people must evidently like background music in dramatic productions. As an example, Lawrence Olivier and I are not bothered at all by adding music to his productions of Hamlet or Henry V although the words are the thing that draw us into it. Pachelbel's Canon is one of the most important works ever written. It is admired for its serene yet joyful character. I imagine that whoever made the video thought he would associate the wonderful music with the song of a nightingale, obviously, and that is why he added it. I hardly hear the music, as I find the reading so compelling and illuminating.
In my opinion, bad word inflection, word stretching, choppiness, gives it a sappiness that a good reading would want to suppress.
Thank you, Ian Wild. When I read a poem I listen to what I hear in it, not to what I think others want to hear. If to some I sound less like an artist and more like a teacher, so be it. I leave it to them to explain what they mean.
Thanks again. I know what you mean by "emoting" although I've never heard it called that. I certainly agree with you, and would add only that a "conversational tone" doesn't preclude emotion, reading with feeling, whether in acting or simply in reading lines, as I do. Part of the challenge is reading in a way that respects the emotional power inherent in the words themselves, and in the music, the rhythm, of the line. Often the overly dramatic, emoting, actually obscures, rather than expresses, the emotion. I also, by temperament, prefer an understated tone. And I gather from what you write that you understand the emotional power of understatement, in the tone of voice as in the words.
In ancient days by emperor and clown (not: emperors and clowns). No disrespect. I like your reading and analysis. But we should always be careful to read the correct word.