Fleurs du Mal Magazine
Or see the index
Out now:
Kerouac on Record ◊ A Literary Soundtrack
Edited by Simon Warner and Jim Sampas
Co-edited by Jack Kerouac’s nephew, including pieces written by Kerouac himself as well as interviews from major literary and musical figures including Allen Ginsberg, Lee Konitz and David Amram, Kerouac on Record gives a unique insight into how Kerouac brought his passion for jazz to his full creative output.
Kerouac on Record is the touchstone for the music of Kerouac – Kerouac’s love for music, the depth of its influence on his work, and the influence that his work continues to extend to waves of contemporary musicians, from David Bowie and Janis Joplin to Sonic Youth. It is a book rife with the work of cultural icons, essential for any fan of the Beat Generation and popular music alike.
About Kerouac on Record
He was the leading light of the Beat Generation writers and the most dynamic author of his time, but Jack Kerouac also had a lifelong passion for music, particularly the mid-century jazz of New York City, the development of which he witnessed first-hand during the 1940s with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk to the fore.
The novelist, most famous for his 1957 book On the Road, admired the sounds of bebop and attempted to bring something of their original energy to his own writing, a torrent of semi-autobiographical stories he published between 1950 and his early death in 1969.
Yet he was also drawn to American popular music of all kinds – from the blues to Broadway ballads – and when he came to record albums under his own name, he married his unique spoken word style with some of the most talented musicians on the scene.
Kerouac’s musical legacy goes well beyond the studio recordings he made himself: his influence infused generations of music makers who followed in his work – from singer-songwriters to rock bands.
Some of the greatest transatlantic names – Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, Van Morrison and David Bowie, Janis Joplin and Tom Waits, Sonic Youth and Death Cab for Cutie, and many more – credited Kerouac’s impact on their output.
In Kerouac on Record, we consider how the writer brought his passion for jazz to his prose and poetry, his own record releases, the ways his legacy has been sustained by numerous more recent talents, those rock tributes that have kept his memory alive and some of the scores that have featured in Hollywood adaptations of the adventures he brought to the printed page.
1. Jack Kerouac’s Jazz Scene Jim Burns – 2. 2nd Chorus: Blues: Jack Kerouac Larry Beckett – 3. Duet for Saxophone and Pen: Lee Konitz and the Direct Influence of Jazz on the Development of Jack Kerouac’s ‘Spontaneous Prose’ Style Marian Jago Interview 1: Lee Konitz Marian Jago – 4. Jack Kerouac Goes Vinyl: A Sonic Journey into Kerouac’s Three LPs: Poetry for the Beat Generation; Blues and Haikus; and Readings by Jack Kerouac on the Beat Generation Jonah Raskin – 5. Art Music: Listening to Kerouac’s ‘Mexico City Blues’ A. Robert Lee Interview 2: David Amram Pat Thomas – 6. Beat Refrains: Music, Milieu and Identity in Jack Kerouac’s The Subterraneans, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Adaptation Michael Prince – 7. Bob Dylan’s Beat Visions (Sonic Poetry) Michael Goldberg – 8. Carrying a Torch for Ti Jean Paul Marion Interview 3: Richard Meltzer Michael Goldberg – 9. The Grateful Dead: Jack Manifested as Music Brian Hassett – 10. Driver Mark Bliesener – 11. Jim Morrison/Angel of Fire Jay Jeff Jones – 12. Light is Faster than Sound: Texans, the Beats and the San Francisco Counterculture Holly George-Warren – 13. Hit the Road, Jack: Van Morrison and On the Road Peter Mills – 14. Detecting Jack Kerouac and Joni Mitchell: A Literary/Legal (Not Musicological) Investigation into the Search for Influence Nancy Grace – 15. Kerouac and Country Music Matt Theado – 16. ‘Straight from the Mind to the Voice’: Spectral Persistence in Jack Kerouac and Tom Waits Douglas Field Interview 4: Barney Hoskyns Simon Warner – 17. From Beat Bop Prosody to Punk Rock Poetry: Patti Smith and Jack Kerouac; Literature, Lineage, Legacy Ronna Johnson Poems: Marc Zegans Interview 6: Allen Ginsberg Pat Thomas – 18. Tramps Like Them: Jack and Bruce and the Myth of the American Road Simon Morrison Interview 5: Graham Parker Pat Thomas – 19. Punk and New Wave James Sullivan – Interview 7: Jim DeRogatis on Lester Bangs James Sullivan – 20. The Tribute Recordings Jim Sampas and Simon Warner – Jack Kerouac Biography – Jack Kerouac Discography Dave Moore – Tribute Discography – Kerouac/Cassady Song List Dave Moore/Horst Spandler
Simon Warner
is a journalist, lecturer and broadcaster who teaches Popular Music Studies at the University of Leeds in the UK. He has, over a number of years, written live reviews and counterculture obituaries for The Guardian and The Independent, and has a particular interest in the relationship between the Beat Generation writers–Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and others–and rock culture. His previous books include Rockspeak: The Language of Rock and Pop (1996) and Howl for Now: A Celebration of Allen Ginsberg’s epic protest poem (2005). – Writes: Popular Music, North American Literature – Author of : Kerouac on Record, Text and Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Jim Sampas
is a music and film producer. His musical works often focuses on major cultural figures such Jack Kerouac (who is his Uncle), The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, The Smiths, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones. He has persuaded a galaxy of stars to partake of a unique aesthetic marriage, as vintage works are resurrected in contemporary arrangements in projects covered by such major news outlets as People Magazine, NPR, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and many others. – Writes: Popular Music, North American Literature – Author of: Kerouac on Record
Following Text and Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Beats and Rock Culture (2013), Simon Warner partners with Literary Executor of the Estate of Jack Kerouac, Jim Sampas, to go deeper into his exploration of the connections between the great figures of the Beat generation and the music of the so-called ‘rock era.’ Interspersed with exclusive interviews of the likes of Lee Konitz, Graham Parker, Lester Bangs, and Allen Ginsberg, the twenty chapters are signed by an impressive array of journalists, music industry professionals, rock critics, writers, film makers and academics from all over the world. Addressing such issues as the influence of jazz on Kerouac’s ‘spontaneous prose’ style, the lineage between his ‘Beat bop prosody’ and Patti Smith‘s ‘punk rock poetry,’ or his inspiring ‘the myth of the American road’ in Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics, they shed light on what appears to be a two-way relationship between popular music and the work of the author of On the Road. As Warner puts it: ‘if, for Kerouac, it was jazz that would have the principal impact, then it was rock on which the writer would have the main effect.’” – Olivier Julien, Lecturer in the History and Musicology of Popular Music, Paris-Sorbonne University, France
Kerouac on Record
A Literary Soundtrack
By: Simon Warner, Jim Sampas
Published: 08-03-2018
Format: Hardback
Edition: 1st
Extent: 480
ISBN: 9781501323348
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions: 229 x 152 mm
RRP: £28.00
Kerouac on Record
A Literary Soundtrack
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: # Music Archive, #Beat Generation Archives, - Book Stories, Archive G-H, Archive G-H, Archive K-L, Archive K-L, Art & Literature News, AUDIO, CINEMA, RADIO & TV, Bob Dylan, Dylan, Bob, Ginsberg, Allen, Jim Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Kerouac, Jack, Patti Smith
Sibelius
Sibelius symphony number eight
On his lips he sounded natures
cry, natures sinewy sigh
and gripped in encapsulation
its voices in dots and dashes.
His work swept the oceans
searching for ringing melodies,
the cosmos dancing in rhythm
through its internal magnetism.
Sounds from the milky way
readily formed within him,
carbon from the core twinkling,
vibrating, the many strings flying
in rich tones, in its resurrection
when death looked imminent
awoke when barely conscious.
He took the new and ancient
and slanted the nucleus
of his vivid expression
into the pool of swirling
existence.
And when the structure
was created,
when the monument was built,
the music gasping for
the air of existence,
for the universe to burst
he burnt the lot
and fell inward, into silence,
where his voice lived only
for his wife and children.
He sat down quietly
and never again lifted
his psyche to varnish sound
with brilliant shimmers.
21.09.07
Vincent Berquez
Poem: Sibelius
Vincent Berquez is a London–based artist and poet
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive A-B, Berquez, Vincent, MUSIC, Vincent Berquez
To the President of Magdalen College, Oxford
Since now from woodland mist and flooded clay
I am fled beside the steep Devonian shore,
Nor stand for welcome at your gothic door,
‘Neath the fair tower of Magdalen and May,
Such tribute, Warren, as fond poets pay
For generous esteem, I write, not more
Enhearten’d than my need is, reckoning o’er
My life-long wanderings on the heavenly way:
But well-befriended we become good friends,
Well-honour’d honourable; and all attain
Somewhat by fathering what fortune sends.
I bid your presidency a long reign,
True friend; and may your praise to greater ends
Aid better men than I, nor me in vain.
Robert Bridges
(1844-1930)
To the President of Magdalen College, Oxford
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: *War Poetry Archive, Archive A-B, Bridges, Robert, WAR & PEACE
‘En toch is alles wat we doen natuur’ bevat de mooiste natuurgedichten van dichter-tekenaar-bioloog Leo Vroman.
Vroman was gefascineerd door het leven in en rondom ons, dat hij tot in de wonderbaarlijkste details observeerde en beschreef.
Tientallen bundels speelse poëzie schreef hij, een onuitputtelijke stroom gedichten van 1946 tot 2014, het jaar van zijn overlijden.
Mirjam van Hengel (auteur van het succesvolle Hoe mooi alles, over Leo en Tineke Vroman) maakte een nieuwe, ruime selectie uit de gedichten die Vroman schreef over de natuur – die van mensen, die van gras, bloemen en bomen, van orkanen en organen en van alle mogelijke dieren.
Leo Vroman (1915-2014) was dichter, prozaïst, essayist, illustrator en hematoloog. Hij studeerde biologie in Utrecht en vluchtte in 1940 naar Nederlands-Indië. In 1945 werd hij uit Japanse gevangenschap bevrijd en vestigde zich in Verenigde Staten, samen met zijn vrouw Tineke. Vroman debuteerde in 1946 met de bundel Gedichten. Vroman ontving in de loop van zijn leven zowat alle belangrijke literaire prijzen die er zijn. In 2006 verscheen het dagboek Misschien tot morgen.
En toch is alles wat we doen natuur
De mooiste gedichten over het leven in en rondom ons
Auteur: Leo Vroman
Redactie: Mirjam van Hengel
Uitgeverij: Querido
Hardcover
Taal: Nederlands
Afmetingen: 31x223x142 mm
Gewicht:481,00 gram
Verschijningsdatum: 6 maart 2018
Druk 1
ISBN10 902140902X
ISBN13 9789021409023
Prijs: € 24,99
# Voor meer informatie ga naar de website: www.vromanfoundation.com
new books
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive U-V, Archive U-V, Art & Literature News, Natural history, Vroman, Leo
Love Came to Us
Love came to us in time gone by
When one at twilight shyly played
And one in fear was standing nigh — –
For Love at first is all afraid.
We were grave lovers. Love is past
That had his sweet hours many a one;
Welcome to us now at the last
The ways that we shall go upon.
James Joyce
(1882-1941)
Love Came to Us
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive I-J, Archive I-J, Joyce, James, Joyce, James
Life
Life! I know not what thou art,
But know that thou and I must part;
And when, or how, or where we met,
I own to me ‘s a secret yet.
But this I know, when thou art fled,
Where’er they lay these limbs, this head,
No clod so valueless shall be
As all that then remains of me.
O whither, whither dost thou fly?
Where bend unseen thy trackless course?
And in this strange divorce,
Ah, tell where I must seek this compound I?
To the vast ocean of empyreal flame
From whence thy essence came
Dost thou thy flight pursue, when freed
From matter’s base encumbering weed?
Or dost thou, hid from sight,
Wait, like some spell-bound knight,
Through blank oblivious years th’ appointed hour
To break thy trance and reassume thy power?
Yet canst thou without thought or feeling be?
O say, what art thou, when no more thou’rt thee?
Life! we have been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather;
‘Tis hard to part when friends are dear;
Perhaps ’twill cost a sigh, a tear;–
Then steal away, give little warning,
Choose thine own time;
Say not Good-night, but in some brighter clime
Bid me Good-morning!
Anna Laetitia Barbauld
(1743-1825)
Life
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive A-B, Archive A-B, CLASSIC POETRY
Du
Du. Ich will dich in den Wassern wecken!
Du. Ich will dich aus den Sternen schweißen!
Du. Ich will dich von dem Irdnen lecken,
Eine Hündin! Dich aus Früchten beißen,
Eine Wilde! Du. Ich will so vieles –
Liebes. Liebstes. Kannst du dich nicht spenden?
Nicht am Ende des Levkojenstieles
Deine weiße Blüte zu mir wenden?
Sieh, ich ging so oft auf harten Wegen,
Auf verpflastert harten, bösen Straßen;
Ich verdarb, verblich an Glut und Regen,
Schluchzend, stammelnd: “. . . über alle Maßen . . .”
Und die Pauke und das Blasrohr lärmten,
Und ich kam mit einer goldnen Kette,
Tanzte unter Lichtern, die mich wärmten,
Schönen Lichtern auf der Schädelstätte.
Und ich möchte wohl in Gärten sitzen,
Auch den Wein wohl trinken aus der Kelter,
Doch die Lider klafften, trübe Ritzen,
Und ich ward in Augenblicken älter.
Und auf meinen Leichnam hingekrochen
Ist die Schnecke träger Arbeitstage,
Zog den Schleimpfad dünner grauer Wochen,
Schlaffer Freude und geringer Plage.
In den Wäldern bin ich umgetrieben.
Ich verriet den Vögeln deinen Namen,
Doch die Vögel sind mir ferngeblieben;
Wenn ich weinte, zirpte keiner: Amen.
Und die Scheckenkühe an den Rainen
Grasten fort mit seltnem Häupterheben.
Da entfloh ich wieder zu den Steinen,
Die mir dieses Kind, mein Kind nicht geben.
Einmal muß ich noch im Finstren kauern
Und das Göttliche zu mir versammeln,
Es beschwören durch getünchte Mauern,
Seinem Ausgang meine Tür verrammeln,
Bis zum bunten Morgen mit ihm ringen.
Ach, es wird den Segen nimmer sprechen,
Nur mit seinem Schlag der erznen Schwingen
Diese flehnde Stirn in Stücke brechen…
Gertrud Kolmar
(1894-1943)
gedicht: Du
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive K-L, Archive K-L, Kolmar, Gertrud
Joachim Ringelnatz
Seepferdchen
Als ich noch ein Seepferdchen war,
Im vorigen Leben,
Wie war das wonnig, wunderbar,
Unter Wasser zu schweben.
In den träumenden Fluten
Wogte, wie Güte, das Haar
Der zierlichsten aller Seestuten,
Die meine Geliebte war.
Wir senkten uns still oder stiegen,
Tanzten harmonisch umeinand,
Ohne Arm, ohne Bein, ohne Hand,
Die Wolken sich in Wolken wiegen.
Sie spielte manchmal graziöses Entfliehn,
Auf daß ich ihr folge, sie hasche,
Und legte mir einmal im Ansichziehn
Eierchen in die Tasche.
Sie blickte traurig und stellte sich froh,
Schnappte nach einem Wasserfloh
Und ringelte sich
An einem Stengelchen fest und sprach so:
Ich liebe dich!
Du wieherst nicht, du äpfelst nicht,
Du trägst ein farbloses Panzerkleid
Und hast ein bekümmertes altes Gesicht,
Als wüßtest du um kommendes Leid.
Seestütchen! Schnörkelchen! Ringelnaß!
Wann war wohl das?
Und wer bedauert wohl später meine restlichen Knochen?
Es ist beinahe so, daß ich weine –
Lollo hat das vertrocknete, kleine
Schmerzverkrümmte Seepferd zerbrochen.
Joachim Ringelnatz
(1883 – 1934)
Seepferdchen
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive Q-R, Joachim Ringelnatz, Natural history
Liu Xia, China, is a poet, artist, and founding member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre. Xia has been held under unofficial house arrest in her Beijing apartment since her late husband, the poet Liu Xiaobo, was named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010.
For seven years, Liu Xia (1961) was held in her apartment without access to phones, internet, doctors of her choice, or visitors. Following the death of her husband in July 2017 and the expression of concern for her wellbeing, Xia appeared in a video in which she asked to be left alone to mourn – it is thought that she may have done this at the behest of the authorities.
The Independent PEN Centre (ICPC) report that the restrictions applied against Liu Xia have relaxed somewhat; she has access to a telephone and is allowed to leave her home, but is under constant surveillance. Colleagues at ICPC report that Liu Xia has been removed from Beijing for the duration of the National People’s Congress; it is expected that she will be returned to her Beijing home after this date.
There are reports that Liu Xia’s mental and physical health continue to suffer due to her detention.
PEN International believes that the ongoing, extra-judicial house arrest of Liu Xia is a form of punishment for the human rights work carried out by her husband, Liu Xiaobo, and is extremely concerned for her physical and psychological integrity.
Please take action for Liu Xia.
# More information and how to act, see website PEN UK
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive W-X, Archive W-X, Art & Literature News, EDITOR'S CHOICE, REPRESSION OF WRITERS, JOURNALISTS & ARTISTS
On Seeing a Piece of Our Artillery Brought into Action
Be slowly lifted up, thou long black arm,
Great gun towering towards Heaven, about to curse;
Sway steep against them, and for years rehearse
Huge imprecations like a blasting charm!
Reach at that Arrogance which needs thy harm,
And beat it down before its sins grow worse;
Spend our resentment, cannon,–yea, disburse
Our gold in shapes of flame, our breaths in storm.
Yet, for men’s sakes whom thy vast malison
Must wither innocent of enmity,
Be not withdrawn, dark arm, thy spoilure done,
Safe to the bosom of our prosperity.
But when thy spell be cast complete and whole,
May God curse thee, and cut thee from our soul!
Wilfred Owen
(1893 – 1918)
On Seeing a Piece of Our Artillery Brought into Action
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive O-P, Owen, Wilfred, WAR & PEACE
W is de hoofdpersoon in de gedichten van De jongenskamer die samen één verhalend gedicht vormen.
Het begint in de jaren voor de Tweede Wereldoorlog en eindigt in de onherkenbaar veranderde wereld van nu – maar wel met een liefdesgedicht.
De kamer achter de werkplaats van W’s vader, een kleermaker, is de plek waar onder invloed van de tijd en de geschiedenis de eerste ideeën van W en zijn broers ontstaan over liefde, vriendschap, kunst en sport – én over de politieke en sociale werkelijkheid en de rol die het individu daarin kan spelen.
Al de liefdeservaringen, de vriendschappen, de boeken, de reizen die het leven van W bepalen, lijken toch altijd met onzichtbare draden verbonden met de eerste waarnemingen uit de jongenskamer.
Willem van Toorn (Amsterdam, 1935) is dichter, schrijver en vertaler. Hij publiceerde een groot aantal romans en verhalen- en gedichtenbundels, en was redacteur van het literair tijdschrift Raster.
Willem van Toorn
De jongenskamer.
Een gedicht
Uitgeverij: Querido
Paperback
ISBN: 9789021409351
Prijs: € 17,99
Publicatiedatum: 13-02-2018
new poetry
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: - Book News, Archive S-T, Archive S-T, Art & Literature News, LITERARY MAGAZINES, Willem van Toorn
Die Sonne
Zwischen meinen Augenlidern fährt ein Kinderwagen.
Zwischen meinen Augenlidern geht ein Mann mit einem Pudel.
Eine Baumgruppe wird zum Schlangenbündel und zischt in den Himmel.
Ein Stein hält eine Rede. Bäume in Grünbrand. Fliehende Inseln.
Schwanken und Muschelgeklingel und Fischkopf wie auf dem Meeresboden.
Meine Beine strecken sich aus bis zum Horizont. Eine Hofkutsche knackt
Drüber weg. Meine Stiefel ragen am Horizont empor wie die Türme einer
Versinkenden Stadt. Ich bin der Riese Goliath. Ich verdaue Ziegenkäse.
Ich bin ein Mammuthkälbchen. Grüne Grasigel schnüffeln an mir.
Gras spannt grüne Säbel und Brücken und Regenbögen über meinen Bauch.
Meine Ohren sind rosa Riesenmuscheln, ganz offen. Mein Körper schwillt an
Von Geräuschen, die sich gefangen haben darin.
Ich höre das Meckern
Des großen Pan. Ich höre die zinnoberrote Musik der Sonne. Sie steht
Links oben. Zinnoberrot sprühen die Fetzen hinaus in die Weltnacht.
Wenn sie herunterfällt, zerquetscht sie die Stadt und die Kirchtürme
Und alle Vorgärten voll Krokus und Hyazinthen, und wird einen Schall geben
Wie Blech von Kindertrompeten.
Aber es ist in der Luft ein Gegeneinanderwehen von Purpur und Eigelb
Und Flaschengrün: Schaukeln, die eine orangene Faust festhält an langen Fäden,
Und ist ein Singen von Vogelhälsen, die über die Zweige hüpfen.
Ein sehr zartes Gestänge von Kinderfahnen.
Morgen wird man die Sonne auf einen großrädrigen Wagen laden
Und in die Kunsthandlung Caspari fahren. Ein viehköpfiger Neger
Mit wulstigein Nacken, Blähnase und breitem Schritt wird fünfzig weiß-
Juckende Esel halten, die vor den Wagen gespannt sind beim Pyramidenbau.
Eine Menge blutbunten Volks wird sich stauen:
Kindsbetterinnen und Ammen,
Kranke im Fahrstuhl, ein stelzender Kranich, zwei Veitstänzerinnen.
Ein Herr mit einer Ripsschleifenkrawatte und ein rotduftender Schutzmann.
Ich kann mich nicht halten: Ich bin voller Seligkeit. Die Fensterkreuze
Zerplatzen. Ein Kinderfräulein hängt bis zum Nabel aus einem Fenster heraus.
Ich kann mir nicht helfen: Die Dome zerplatzen mit Orgelfugen. Ich will
Eine neue Sonne schaffen. Ich will zwei gegeneinanderschlagen
Wie Zymbeln, und meiner Dame die Hand hinreichen. Wir werden entschweben
In einer violetten Sänfte über die Dächer euerer
Hellgelben Stadt wie Lampenschirme aus Seidenpapier im Zugwind.
Hugo Ball
(1886 – 1927)
Erstdruck in:
Die Aktion (Berlin),
4. Jg., Nr. 22, Mai 1914
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive A-B, Ball, Hugo, Dada, DADA, Dadaïsme
Thank you for reading Fleurs du Mal - magazine for art & literature