GRATITUDE AND BEAUTY
by Bryan Borland
I want to thank Eric Knechtges, Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Northern Kentucky University, for composing and staging a recital piece for narrator and viola around three of my poems.
The pieces were performed Friday night and the results were ten minutes of absolute beauty.
I am including a link to an unofficial recording of the performance. The poems, in order, are Teenage Boys, Strings, and Morning Coffee. I suggest reading the poems in print as you listen to the music.
Shake – Music By Eric Knechtges and Poetry by Bryan Borland
Or click the audio icon to listen here:
As a writer, to hear music inspired by my poetry is humbling and surreal, sort of a cross between a hug, a punch to the gut, and winning the lottery. Breathless and exhilarated, I will be forever grateful for the experience. No doubt the words were elevated by the brilliance of Eric Knechtges and his musicians.
Thank you Eric!
Again, it’s very rewarding to hear them read out loud. I especially think it added some new flavors (pun not intended) to ‘Strings’. You have every reason to be happy about the result, not to mention proud of the magnificent poems you gave them to work it. Loved it.
RECOGNIZE that figuring out how to get the audio file hosted on this blog – WITH the audio player and audio icon – was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do – EVER.
Thank you QL! I agree that Strings may have benefited the most from the music – it truly came to life in a way I never imagined. My personal favorite is the bluesy-influenced Teenage Boys. I also love how manic/caffeinated Morning Coffee turned out.
I thought they were each very well done – and unique experiences. But I have to be partial to “Morning Coffee” as it hits close to home. I’ve been known to chew coffee beans in the grocery aisle… And twice when hospitalized, I had REAL coffee smuggled in. Coffee is my last vice – and I’ll give it up for no one.
Thank you for sharing these. I would have been the loudest applauder in the auditorium. Makes me so proud to “know” you.
Very cool.
indeed , uploading anything to here is hard. and far more hearing your own piece interapt by someone else is one of the greatest reward anartist can get.
i am verry happy to see this progress with your work..
it will run now through my speakers for long time.
D!
Oh man, you should’ve told me! I’m like 10 minutes form NKU. I thought you said it was at WKU, which a few hours away. Congrats, though!!!!
Patrice – are you just saying that because you know that in the highly unlikely case I ever make any money off of writing, I’d buy a Patrice-original?
Utopian – I share your sentiments… thank you for your well wishes.
Tel – I *DID* tell you WKU!!! Me = dumbass!
Strings is my fave, although I thought Morning Coffee was quite whimsical. True to my own Medicated Lady style, I always see “Morning Coffee” as “Mourning Coffee.” Mourning is always preferrable.
It’s a pun, Dear Medicated Lady.
That is really cool. In college, one of my housemates was a musician and he did the same thing for a couple of my poems, so I know the feeling. I look forward to listening to your songs again. Thanks.
Congratulations to you both, Eric and Bryan!
Since I’ve only known you a short while, I hadn’t seen or heard your “Strings”. That’s a helluva rip! Perhaps, it was because I saw it from the husbands perspective afterwords.
Thanks for the coffee break!
Holy Mackeral! That is fantastic, Bryan. Cross media collaboration and with such an esteemed colleague. You must be proud as a penguin and the music is gorgeous.
Yeah, I loved TB too. Very far from how I ever imagined it. But that’s a good thing, since my poetic/musical imagination is nothing to crow about.
what a kewl idea
you are SO connected! I’m envious.
Thanks guys and gals.
HT -it is a unique experience – a thrilling one at that.
Uncle T – HA! Poor husband. Maybe a sequel is in order.
Proud as a penguin. = That made me happy, Paul!
QL – I know there’s a poet in you and I’ll find him yet!
Jessie – the godmother of poetry, coming from you that is something!
I want to congratulate you, I think it is a brave thing to do, I wouldn’t dare experimenting with music and poems, you expose yourself a lot. I really like the work, I think you should keep exploring that kind of stuff, but also go on with the other (Who am I to give you advices, I do not know, sorry I can not help it).
The musicians where great. I felt like you entered in a new dimension. I think you know you did something big. I admire that you are still humble and grateful.
Thank you Mariana… the bravery here belongs to Eric… I could hide behind the screen… Eric was in the spotlight.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful…you have arrived
Poetry and music and everything. how great is that?
Hugs,
Bev