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Charles Alexander

PoemTalk #62, Discussing Charles Alexander's "Near or Random Acts", feat. Mark Nowak, Ken Jacobs, and Ron Silliman

Listen to the complete recording and read program notes for the episode at Jacket2.

PoemTalk #45, Discussing Eileen Myles' "Snakes", feat. Sarah Dowling, Michelle Taransky, and Charles Alexander

Listen to the complete recording and read program notes for the episode at Jacket2.

PennSound #20: Letterpress Publishing

A discussion with Al Filreis about 27 years of Chax Press, predecessors and influences in the world of 20th-century letterpress publishing.

Complete recording (28:07): MP3

Reading Near or Random Acts, Tucson, AZ, August 27, 2012

  • Introductory remarks (0:31): MP3
    1. Near or Random Acts 1 (0:25): MP3
    2. Near or Random Acts 2 (0:21): MP3
    3. Near or Random Acts 3 (0:21): MP3
    4. Near or Random Acts 4 (0:21): MP3
    5. Near or Random Acts 5 (0:20): MP3
    6. Near or Random Acts 6 (0:22): MP3
    7. Near or Random Acts 7 (0:23): MP3
    8. Near or Random Acts 8 (0:21): MP3
    9. Near or Random Acts 9 (0:23): MP3
    10. Near or Random Acts 10 (0:22): MP3
    11. Near or Random Acts 11 (0:19): MP3
    12. Near or Random Acts 12 (0:20): MP3
    13. Near or Random Acts 13 (0:22): MP3
    14. Near or Random Acts 14 (0:20): MP3
    15. Near or Random Acts 15 (0:21): MP3
    16. Near or Random Acts 16 (0:19): MP3
    17. Near or Random Acts 17 (0:19): MP3
    18. Near or Random Acts 18 (0:20): MP3
    19. Near or Random Acts 19 (0:22): MP3
    20. Near or Random Acts 20 (0:27): MP3
    21. Near or Random Acts 21 (0:23): MP3
    22. Near or Random Acts 22 (0:18): MP3
    23. Near or Random Acts 23 (0:21): MP3
    24. Near or Random Acts 24 (0:17): MP3
    25. Near or Random Acts 25 (0:19): MP3
    26. Near or Random Acts 26 (0:23): MP3
    27. Near or Random Acts 27 (0:23): MP3
    28. Near or Random Acts 28 (0:21): MP3
    29. Near or Random Acts 29 (0:18): MP3
    30. Near or Random Acts 30 (0:17): MP3
    31. Near or Random Acts 31 (0:39): MP3
    32. Near or Random Acts 32 (0:20): MP3
    33. Near or Random Acts 33 (0:16): MP3
    34. Near or Random Acts 34 (0:19): MP3
    35. Near or Random Acts 35 (0:17): MP3
    36. Near or Random Acts 36 (0:18): MP3
    37. Near or Random Acts 37 (0:20): MP3
    38. Near or Random Acts 38 (0:18): MP3
    39. Near or Random Acts 39 (0:17): MP3
    40. Near or Random Acts 40 (0:16): MP3
    41. Near or Random Acts 41 (0:15): MP3
    42. Near or Random Acts 42 (0:17): MP3
    43. Near or Random Acts 43 (0:17): MP3
    44. Near or Random Acts 44 (0:14): MP3
    45. Near or Random Acts 45 (0:18): MP3
    46. Near or Random Acts 46 (0:16): MP3
    47. Near or Random Acts 47 (0:18): MP3
    48. Near or Random Acts 48 (0:16): MP3
    49. Near or Random Acts 49 (0:17): MP3
    50. Near or Random Acts 50 (0:18): MP3
    51. Near or Random Acts 51 (0:18): MP3
    52. Near or Random Acts 52 (0:28): MP3
    53. Near or Random Acts 53 (0:16): MP3
    54. Near or Random Acts 54 (0:16): MP3
    55. Near or Random Acts 55 (0:20): MP3
    56. Near or Random Acts 56 (0:19): MP3, text
    57. Near or Random Acts 57 (0:15): MP3, text
    58. Near or Random Acts 58 (0:24): MP3, text
    59. Near or Random Acts 59 (0:12): MP3, text
    60. Near or Random Acts 60 (0:18): MP3, text
    61. Near or Random Acts 61 (0:20): MP3, text
    62. Near or Random Acts 62 (0:19): MP3, text
    63. Near or Random Acts 63 (0:19): MP3, text
    64. Near or Random Acts 64 (0:18): MP3, text
    65. Near or Random Acts 65 (0:19): MP3, text
    66. Near or Random Acts 66 (0:18): MP3, text
    67. Near or Random Acts 67 (0:20): MP3
    68. Near or Random Acts 68 (0:18): MP3
    69. Near or Random Acts 69 (0:20): MP3
    70. Near or Random Acts 70 (0:18): MP3

Complete reading (24:32): MP3

Recording engineered and produced by Drew Burk.

Near or Random Acts is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 62.

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics, hosted by Leonard Schwartz

Episode #250: Water and Tree, March 15, 2012

Alexander reads from and discusses his latest book of poetry, Pushing Water (Cuneiform Books).

Complete recording (29:42): MP3

Reading at the Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, September 27, 2011

Watch on Media.sas

  • Complete reading (1:07:24): MP3

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics, hosted by Leonard Schwartz

Episode #227: Once Upon A Time, February 13, 2011

Charles Alexander, publisher of Chax Press in Tucson, Arizona, talks about Chax's latest titles.

  • Complete recording (13:29): MP3

Selected recent poems, recorded at the Kelly Writers House, February 1, 2011

  1. Translation of Sappho's "Some say horsemen, some say warriors" (0:52): MP3
  2. Ars Amatorio, or How I Learned to Walk in Light (2:15): MP3
  3. Pushing Water, 47 (5:28): MP3
  4. Pushing Water: Coda, 105 (0:09): MP3
  5. Pushing Water: Coda, 106 (0:17): MP3
  6. Pushing Water: Coda, 107 (0:10): MP3
  7. Pushing Water: Coda, 108 (0:23): MP3
  8. Pushing Water: Coda, 109 (0:49): MP3
  9. notes and poems from journal, Dec. 2010 to Jan. 2011 (6:39): MP3
  10. Sonnet Dream for Leslie Scalapino (2:19): MP3
  11. Sonnet for Harry Smith Print Shop (1:09): MP3
  12. Portland Sonnet (1:18): MP3
  13. Sonnet for David (1:19): MP3

Reading at the Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, February 1, 2011

Watch on Media.sas

  • Complete reading (48:30): MP3

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics, hosted by Leonard Schwartz

Episode #190 Pushing Water/Minus Ship, April 19, 2009

Charles Alexander reads and discusses Pushing Water 50, as well as his recent essay Between Poetics.

Complete recording (39:20): MP3

Segue Series Reading at the Bowery Poetry Club, New York City, April 18, 2009

  1. Introduction (3:51): MP3
  2. Introduction by Charles Alexander (2:10): MP3
  3. A Song (0:59): MP3
  4. A Book for Barbara (1:39): MP3
  5. Cardinal, 5 (0:57): MP3
  6. Cardinal, 16 (0:39): MP3
  7. Pushing Water, 30 (3:00): MP3
  8. Pushing Water, 37 (4:23): MP3
  9. Pushing Water, 42 (1:56): MP3
  10. Pushing Water, 43 (1:03): MP3
  11. Introduction to Pushing Water, 46 (2:11): MP3
  12. Pushing Water, 46 (3:26): MP3
  • Complete reading (39:22): MP3

Threads Talk Series, April 16, 2009

  1. Introduction by Steve Clay (2:31): MP3
  2. Talk: "Between Poetics" (42:40): MP3
  3. Conversation (29:39): MP3

Complete recording (1:15:12): MP3

Appearing on POG Sound reading at The Drawing Studio, Tuscon, AZ, March 15, 2008

Complete reading (30:47): MP3

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics hosted by Leonard Schwartz

Episode #144: Readings and Nasrin, June 17, 2007

Charles Alexander reads from Certain Slants.

Complete recording (20:43): MP3

Reading for Double Change, Paris, June 13, 2007

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics, hosted by Leonard Schwartz

Episode #139: Three Poets, May 7, 2007

Charles Alexander reads from his book Certain Slants, published by Junction Press.

Complete recording (18:55): MP3

From Charles Bernstein's Portraits Series: Charles Bound, January 15, 2007

Watch on Media.sas

Charles Alexander
The esteemed poet-bookmaker speaks about the significance of binding.
(mp4, 33 seconds, 6.6 mb)

Reading at the Chax Press NYC Book Launch at the Bowery Poetry Club, New York City, January 14, 2007

Complete reading (6:48): MP3

Complete program (58:54): MP3

Segue Series Reading at the Bowery Poetry Club, New York City, March 25, 2006

  1. Introduction by Charles Borkhuis (2:58): MP3
  2. From Near or Random Acts (1:09): MP3
  3. Untitled (1:06): MP3
  4. Mother (Merle Alexander 1918 - ) (3:39): MP3
  5. Astrobiology as Perfume (4:17): MP3
  6. Pushing Water, 26 (2:16): MP3
  7. Pushing Water, 27 (8:37): MP3
  8. Pushing Water, 28 (0:56): MP3
  9. Pushing Water, 29 (5:27): MP3
  10. Pushing Water, 30 (1:30): MP3
  11. What To (2:34): MP3
  12. Pushing Water, 31 (3:09): MP3

Complete reading (38:23): MP3

Near or Random Acts is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 62.

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics, hosted by Leonard Schwartz

Episode #97: From Arizona, January 15, 2006

Charles Alexander, poet and publisher of Chax Press, reads from his latest book Near or Random Acts (Singing Horse Press).

Complete recording (28:46): MP3

Reading from Near or Random Acts at the Gil Ott Celebration, UPenn, October 27, 2001

  • Introductory remarks (2:29): MP3
  • Near or Random Acts: 16 - 29 (5:05): MP3
    1. Near or Random Acts 16 (0:21): MP3
    2. Near or Random Acts 17 (0:19): MP3
    3. Near or Random Acts 18 (0:19): MP3
    4. Near or Random Acts 19 (0:20): MP3
    5. Near or Random Acts 20 (0:23): MP3
    6. Near or Random Acts 21 (0:26): MP3
    7. Near or Random Acts 22 (0:18): MP3
    8. Near or Random Acts 23 (0:19): MP3
    9. Near or Random Acts 24 (0:17): MP3
    10. Near or Random Acts 25 (0:20): MP3
    11. Near or Random Acts 26 (0:20): MP3
    12. Near or Random Acts 27 (0:22): MP3
    13. Near or Random Acts 28 (0:23): MP3
    14. Near or Random Acts 29 (0:16): MP3

Near or Random Acts is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 62.

Reading at the Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, October 25, 2001

  1. Introductory remarks (1:01): MP3
  2. Near or Random Acts 1 (0:22): MP3
  3. Near or Random Acts 2 (0:21): MP3
  4. Near or Random Acts 3 (0:19): MP3
  5. Near or Random Acts 58 (0:48): MP3
  6. Near or Random Acts 59 (0:11): MP3
  7. Near or Random Acts 60 (0:14): MP3
  8. Near or Random Acts 61 (0:16): MP3
  9. Near or Random Acts 62 (0:17): MP3
  10. Near or Random Acts 63 (0:16): MP3
  11. Near or Random Acts 64 (0:17): MP3
  12. Near or Random Acts 65 (0:17): MP3
Complete reading (4:55): MP3

Near or Random Acts is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 62.

Postcard Project, Steel Bar

  • Complete reading (41:08): MP3

Reading at the Left Hand Reading Series, Boulder, Colorado, April 7, 2000

  1. Gusty Winds May Exist (1:01): MP3
  2. Etudes: 1 (2:26): MP3
  3. Etudes: 2 (1:31): MP3
  4. Etudes: 3 (1:32): MP3
  5. Etudes: 4 (1:29): MP3
  6. Etudes: 5 (1:25): MP3
  7. Etudes: 6 (1:28): MP3
  8. Etudes: 7 (1:35): MP3
  9. Etudes: 8 (1:25): MP3
  10. Etudes: 9 (1:24): MP3
  11. Etudes: 10 (1:49): MP3
  12. Etudes: 11 (1:46): MP3
  13. Etudes: 12 (1:45): MP3
  14. Etudes: 13 (1:41): MP3
  15. Etudes: 14 (1:44): MP3
  16. Rain Song (1:43): MP3
Complete reading (26:18): MP3

Reading for the Wednesdays @ 4 Plus Series, SUNY-Buffalo, March 1, 1995

Complete reading (54:17): MP3

Segue Series Reading at the Ear Inn, New York City, May 11, 1990

Complete reading (38:04): MP3

Also of Interest:

Charles Alexander on PennSound Daily

These sound recordings are being made available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights to this recorded material belong to the author. © 2013 Charles Alexander. Used with permission of Charles Alexander. Distributed by PennSound.