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Nathaniel Mackey

PoemTalk #89, Discussing Nathaniel Mackey's "Day after Day of the Dead," feat. Tsitsi Jaji, Herman Beavers, and William J. Harris

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

Appearing on Close Listening with Charles Bernstein, Kelly Writers House, February 1, 2011

Program One: Reading
  1. Introduction (2:13): MP3
From Nod House:
  1. Sound and Subsequence (5:30): MP3
  2. Day after Day of the Dead (3:59): MP3
  3. Lullaby in Lagos (5:15): MP3
  4. Ghost of a Trance (4:38): MP3
From a new untitled manuscript:
  1. A Night in Jaipur (3:41): MP3
  2. Stick City Bjajan (2:23): MP3
  • Complete reading (27:41): MP3

"Day after Day of the Dead" is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 89.

Program Two: Conversation
  1. Introduction (0:55): MP3
  2. On Discrepant Engagement (1:20): MP3
  3. On Paracritical Hinge (2:35): MP3
  4. On rhythm (3:06): MP3
  5. On being graceful (3:11): MP3
  6. On duende (3:31): MP3
  7. On syncopation (2:00): MP3
  8. On discourses (5:57): MP3
  9. On other knowledges (2:18): MP3
  10. On improvisation (4:43): MP3
  • Complete conversation (29:39): MP3

Reading for What Is Undug Will Be: A Digital Archive Launch for XCP (1997–2010), Virtual Program, February 27, 2021

For full list of readers and more information, see complete listing.

Reading at The Mackey Sessions with Our True Day Begun Soon Come Qu'ahttet, Durham, NC, September 21, 2018

Complete reading (1:17:58): MP3

Musicians: Sandy Blocker, Jason Lentz, Dorian Lee Parreott II, and Vattel Cherry

Reading for Heatstrings, at Alan Golding's Home, Louisville, KY, February 20, 2016

  • Song of the Andoumboulou: 136 (3:13): MP3

Reading for Heatstrings at WHAT I SAY Roundtable, Louisville, KY, February 19, 2016

  1. Preface to "Blue Fasa" (3:57): MP3
  2. Song of the Andoumboulou: 188 1/4 (3:47): MP3
  3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 188 1/2 (2:45): MP3
  4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 188 3/4 (2:15): MP3
  5. Sister Sea's Hideaway (2:53): MP3

Mackey's complete segment (15:39): MP3

Reading for Heatstrings at the Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY, February 16, 2016

  1. Introduction (4:15): MP3
  2. Enuncio's Last Love Song (6:08): MP3
  3. The Long Andoumboulou Song (15:08): MP3
  4. Andoumboulou: 166 1/2 (5:00): MP3
  5. Black Snake Lightning (11:01): MP3

Complete reading (45:53): MP3

Reading with Marty Ehrlich, Hugo House, Seattle, September 22, 2019

Kelly Writers House Fellows Program, March 21-22, 2017

Watch on Media.sas

Complete recording (75:14): MP3

Watch on Media.sas

Complete recording (69:05): MP3

Reading for Lute & Drum, Louisville, KY, February 19, 2016


(click to enlarge photos)
Nathaniel Mackey reads for the Lute & Drum Series, February 19, 2015

  1. Introduction (4:14): MP3
  2. Anuncio's Fourth Last Love Song (9:40): MP3
  3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 140 (15:57): MP3
  4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 166 1/2 (5:01): MP3
  5. Black Snake Lightning (mu, 176th part) (10:56): MP3

Complete reading (45:53): MP3

Group Reading at Alan Golding's Home for Heatstrings, Louisville, KY, February 20, 2016

Complete reading (57:00): MP3

Song of the Andoumboulou: 136 (3:13): MP3

WHAT I SAY Roundtable for Heatstrings, Louisville, KY, February 19, 2016

Complete reading (1:11:10): MP3

  1. From Preface to Blue Fasa (3:54): MP3
  2. Song of the Andoumboulou: 188 1/4: School of Udhra (3:48): MP3
  3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 188 1/2: School of Oud (2:43): MP3
  4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 188 3/4: School of Oud (2:15): MP3
  5. Sister Sea's Hideaway, Mu, 169th part (2:57): MP3

Mackey's complete section (15:47): MP3

Reading with Rachel Blau DuPlessis at the Edison–Newman Room, Woodberry Poetry Library, Harvard University, October 29, 2015

Rachel Blau Du Plessis and Nathaniel Mackey, The Poet’s Voice (October 29, 2015). PS3554.U566 P64 2015. Woodberry Poetry Room, Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Reading at the Kelly Writers House, February 1, 2011

  • Complete reading (49:15): MP3

  1. Introduction (1:02): MP3
  2. Double Stacatto (4:27): MP3
  3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 79 (6:27): MP3
  4. "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 1 (5:21): MP3
  5. Paragraph on "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 1 (2:16): MP3
  6. "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 2 (14:59): MP3
  7. Moment's Gnosis (6:03): MP3
  8. Anabatic Jukebox (7:59): MP3

Appearing on Cross Cultural Poetics, Episode #113: Splay Anthem, October 1, 2006

  1. On Splay Anthem structure (2:38): MP3
  2. On mu (6:38): MP3
  3. mu sixteenth part (2:51): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  4. On movement (4:54): MP3
  5. On ska (2:45): MP3
  6. On Andoumboulou (9:04): MP3
  7. Song of the Andoumboulou: 50: Ring of the Well (8:29): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  8. On pronouns (6:22): MP3
  9. On Nub (2:21): MP3
  10. From Song of the Andoumboulou: 60 (1:09): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  11. On new work (7:27): MP3
  • Complete recording (56:03): MP3

Soundeye International Poetry Festival: A documentary film by Adam Wyeth and Keith Walsh, 2005

Soundeye International Poetry Festival: A documentary film by Adam Wyeth, edited by Keith Walsh, filmed at the 2005 poetry festival in Cork. Featuring festival directors Trevor Joyce and Matthew Geden and poets Yang Lian, Maurice Scully (55:30), Charles Bernstein (42:50), Mairead Byrne (1:04:00), Nathaniel Mackey (35:00), Sean Bonney (13:30), Catherine Wagner, Tom Leonard (1:08:27), Maurice Scully (55:30), Catherine Wagner (22:35), Randolph Healy (39:45), Hugh Maxton, and Fiona Sampson.

Complete audio (1:32:17): MP3

Cork Poetry Festival, Summer 2004, film by Adam Wyeth with Nathaniel Mackey, Randolph Healey, and Charles Bernstein

Watch on Media.sas

Reading at Cue Art Foundation, NYC, March 12, 2004

Watch on Media.sas

Recorded by Chris Funkhouser.

  1. Introduction (3:47): MP3
  2. Mackey's Introduction (2:35): MP3
  3. From "Song of the Andoumboulou 20" (0:48): MP3
  4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 29 (7:36): MP3
  5. Song of the Andoumboulou: 30 (6:37): MP3
  6. Song of the Andoumboulou: 34 (8:15): MP3
  7. Sound and Semblance ("mu" twenty-sixth part) (2:55): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  8. Song of the Andoumboulou: 55: Orphic Fragment (2:19): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  9. Double Staccato ("mu" forty-third part) (2:53): MP3
  • Complete reading (38:21): MP3

Reading at Mills College, September 9, 2003

  1. Introduction to Four for Glenn (1:31): MP3
  2. Four for Glenn II (Go Left Out of Shantiville) (1:59): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  3. Introduction to Four for Glenn IV (1:24): MP3
  4. Four for Glenn IV (Glenn on Monk's Mountain) (2:15): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  5. Introduction to On Antiphon Island (1:00)MP3
  6. On Antiphon Island (2:05): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  7. Introduction to Sound and Semblance (2:58): MP3
  8. Sound and Semblance (2:36): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  9. Sound and Sentience (3:00): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]

Reading at Wednesdays @ 4 Plus, SUNY-Buffalo, February 12, 2003

  1. Introduction (4:31): MP3
  2. Mackey's Introduction (4:58): MP3
  3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 20 (5:19): MP3
  4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 25: zar nth part (3:47): MP3
  5. From "Paracritical Hinge" (17 July 1982) (6:27): MP3
  6. From "Paracritical Hinge" (26 July 1982) (5:16): MP3
  7. Song of the Andoumboulou: 42 (8:13): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  8. Song of the Andoumboulou: 48 (7:58): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  9. Song of the Andoumboulou: 55: Orphic Fragment (2:28): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
  10. Song of the Andoumboulou: 58 (8:03): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]

Complete reading (57:19): MP3

From Kenning, Vol. 4 No. 3 Autumn/Winter 2002-2003, Issue #12

From from ATET A.D. (2:50): MP3

Recorded by Chris Funkhouser, 7 April 1994, Albany, New York (University at Albany). This letter appears in ATET A.D. (San Francisco: City Lights, 2001).

Panel with Mackey in conversation with Charles Bernstein, Juliana Spahr, Steve McCaffery, Roland Greene, MLA, New York, December 28, 2002

  • Reading and discussion (1:04:55): MP3, RealAudio

    1. On approaching discrepant engagement (7:27): MP3
    2. On influence (3:04): MP3
    3. On literary histories (4:54): MP3
    4. On ethnopoetics (4:56): MP3
    5. On alternative epics (5:03): MP3
    6. On music (4:00): MP3
    7. On repetition (6:22): MP3
    8. On sound (5:17): MP3
    9. On poetry versus fiction (2:42): MP3

  • Reading only (14:20): MP3, RealAudio

    1. Song of the Andoumboulou: 55: Orphic Fragment (2:56): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
    2. Dread Lakes Aperture (4:04): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
    3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 58 (7:16): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]

  • Photos of the panel

Reading at Cornell University, November 29, 2001

  • Introduction by Barry Maxwell (7:45): MP3
    1. Introduction to "Alphabet of Ahtt" (3:00): MP3
    2. Alphabet of Ahtt (3:28): MP3
    3. Far Over (3:34): MP3
    4. Mu 14th Part (3:24): MP3
    5. Song of the Andoumboulou 19 (5:28): MP3
    6. Song of the Andoumboulou 32: low quadrant (2:41): MP3
    7. From "Bedouin Handbook" (28 August 1980) (4:16): MP3
    8. From "Bedouin Handbook" (30 August 1980) (13:15): MP3
    9. From "Djbot Baghostus's Run" (22 January 1982) (7:28): MP3
    10. Eye on the Scarecrow (4:10): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
    11. Song of the Andoumboulou 42 (7:41): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
    12. Glen on Monk's Mountain (4:21): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]
    13. On Antiphon Island (2:54): MP3 [From Splay Anthem]

    Expanding the Repertoire: Continuity and Change in African-American Writing, Participating in Panel Discussions at Small Press Traffic, April 2000

    • Panel 1 (2:14:40): MP3
    • Panel 2 (1:36:39): MP3
    • Panel 3 (1:54:33): MP3

    Recordings courtesy of David Buuck, who has dedicated an issue of his journal Tripwire to the conference.

    Reading at the Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, November 13, 1997

    1. Introduction by Mike McGee (1:57): MP3
    2. Introduction by Nathaniel Mackey (6:34): Mp3
    3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 18 (5:28): MP3
    4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 19 (3:11): MP3
    5. Song of the Andoumboulou: 20 (6:18): MP3
    6. Song of the Andoumboulou: 25 (5:04): MP3
    7. Song of the Andoumboulou: 28 (4:29): MP3
    8. Song of the Andoumboulou: 31 (3:50): MP3
    9. Song of the Andoumboulou: 33 (8:19): MP3
    10. Song of the Andoumboulou: 33 1/2 (1:23): MP3

    Seminar at SUNY, Date Unknown

    Complete recording (1:09:58): MP3

    Recording courtesy of Chris Funkhouser.

    Reading at SUNY Buffalo, April 18, 1996.

    Recording courtesy of Chris Funkhouser

    1. Introduction (3:21): MP3
    2. From Dear Angel of Dust (3:39): MP3
    3. The Brook I Stood Before as a Child (3:32): MP3
    4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 26 (9:00): MP3
    5. Song of the Andoumboulou: 28 (3:02): MP3
    6. Song of the Andoumboulou: 29 (6:21): MP3
    7. Song of the Andoumboulou: 30 (6:24): MP3
    8. Song of the Andoumboulou: 31 (3:37): MP3

    Complete recording (39:36): MP3

    STRICK: Song of the Andoumboulou: 16-25, June 13, 1994

    Nathaniel Mackey with Royal Hartigan and Hafez Modirzadeh

    1. Song of the Andoumboulou: 16 (5:57): MP3
      2. Royal Hartigan: drum set and Chinese opera percussion instruments: ban (clapper and wood block), tan pi ku (drum), nao bo (cymbols), xiao luo (small gong), and da luo (large gong).
      Hafez Modirzadeh: tenor saxophone.
    2. Song of the Andoumboulou: 17 (4:57): MP3
      3. Royal Hartigan: kulintang (Philippine gong chime).
      Hafez Modirzadeh: tenor saxophone and zorna.
    3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 18 (7:44): MP3
      4. Royal Hartigan: donno (West African string tension, double headed, hourglass shaped drum).
      Hafez Modirzadeh: suling, zorna.
    4. Song of the Andoumboulou: 19 (3:40): MP3
      5. Royal Hartigan: bendir (Turkish frame drum).
      Hafez Modirzadeh: Arab nay.
    5. Song of the Andoumboulou: 20 (12:40): MP3
      6. Royal Hartigan: drum set.
      Hafez Modirzadeh: tenor saxophone.
    6. Song of the Andoumboulou: 21 (2:53): MP3
      7. Royal Hartigan: drum set.
      Hafez Modirzadeh: flute.
    7. Song of the Andoumboulou: 22 (8:30): MP3
      8. Royal Hartigan: bendir.
      Hafez Modirzadeh: Persian nay.
    8. Song of the Andoumboulou: 23 (5:30): MP3
      9. Royal Hartigan: drum set.
      Hafez Modirzadeh: tenor saxophone.
    9. Song of the Andoumboulou: 24 (5:24): MP3
      10. Royal Hartigan: drum set, bendir, and zirbaghali (goblet drum).
      Hafez Modirzadeh: punji and tenor saxophone.
    10. Song of the Andoumboulou: 25 (3:47): MP3
      11. Royal Hartigan: drum set and donno.
      Hafez Modirzadeh: zorna.

    Executive production: Lindsay Hill
    Literary production: Paul Naylor
    Musical production: Billy Panda
    Design: Greg Heartman
    Photography: Susan Berthiaume
    Cover Art: Irving Petlin

    © 1995 Spoken Engine Co.

    Writers Institute Reading, Albany, April 7, 1994

    Complete reading (57:54): MP3

    1. Introduction (8:39): MP3
    2. "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 1 (7:16): MP3
    3. "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 2 (26:36): MP3
    4. "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 3 (2:59): MP3
    5. "Dear Angel of Dust" Letter 4 (4:49): MP3
    6. Q&A Session (6:47): MP3

    Recorded by Chris Funkhouser.

    Reading at the Woodstock Guild, NY, November 19, 1993

    1. Introduction (1:26): MP3
    2. Irritable Mystic(2:16): MP3
    3. Knotted Highness (2:59): MP3
    4. Degree Four (1:40): MP3
    5. Sweet Mystic Beast (4:52): MP3
    6. Wizard of Ought (4:03): MP3
    7. Slipped Quadrant (3:49): MP3
    8. Intro to the Song of the Andoumboulou Series (3:52): MP3
    9. Song of the Andoumboulou: 16 (4:57): MP3
    10. Song of the Andoumboulou: 17 (4:05): MP3
    11. Song of the Andoumboulou: 18 (5:20): MP3
    12. Song of the Andoumboulou: 19 (2:38): MP3
    13. Song of the Andoumboulou: 20 (5:28): MP3
    14. Song of the Andoumboulou: 21 (1:48): MP3
    15. Song of the Andoumboulou: 22 (4:09): MP3
    16. Song of the Andoumboulou: 23 (3:57): MP3
    17. Song of the Andoumboulou: 24 (3:46): MP3
    18. Song of the Andoumboulou: 25 (2:59): MP3

Complete recording (1:08:44): MP3

Recording courtesy of Chris Funkhouser.

Appearing at New Freedoms, April 9, 1993

  1. Song of the Andoumboulou: 19 (3:40): MP3
  2. Song of the Andoumboulou: 23 (4:06): MP3
  3. Song of the Andoumboulou: 24 (3:56): MP3
  • Mackey reading (11:45): MP3
  • Complete recording of event (1:57:29): MP3

Reading at Zar, Santa Cruz, April 13 1992

  1. Wizard of Ought (5:44) MP3
  2. Tonu Soy (8:32) MP3
  3. Aspic Surmise (7:38) MP3
  4. Far Over (6:11) MP3
  5. Slipped Quadrant (3:11) MP3

Complete reading (36:31): MP3

Recorded by Chris Funkhouser.

Interview with A.L. Nielsen, Santa Cruz, July 18, 1991

  1. Introduction (1:08): MP3
  2. On Hambone (10:20): MP3
  3. On programming (8:06): MP3
  4. On jazz (10:24): MP3
  5. On Black writers (10:56): MP3
  6. On othering (9:07): MP3
  7. On broken form (5:08): MP3
  8. On extended works (4:44): MP3
  • Complete interview (1:00:25): MP3

Courtesy of A.L. Nielsen's Incognito Lounge.

Reading at the Naropa Institute with Charles Bernstein and Susan Howe, Boulder, Colorado, July 11, 1991

  1. Introduction by Andrew Schelling (1:28): MP3
  2. Tonu Soy (6:34) MP3
  3. Aspect Surmise (6:55): MP3
  4. Slipped Quadrant (2:59): MP3 [published in Best American Poetry, 1990]
  5. Collateral Death (2:18): MP3

Complete reading (18:49): MP3, RealAudio

Reading at Intersection for the Arts in San Francisco, June 24, 1991
  1. Introduction (0:29): MP3
  2. Irritable Mystic (3:05): MP3
  3. Knotted Highness (4:23): MP3
  4. Sweet Mystic Beast (5:33): MP3
  5. Alphabet of Ought (2:10): MP3
  6. Miscellaneous Poem (2:07): MP3
  7. Ought Island (5:50): MP3
  8. Wizard of Ought (7:07): MP3
  9. Tonu Soy (7:37): MP3
  10. Angel of Oust (4:08): MP3
  11. Slipped Quadrant (3:12): MP3
  12. Collateral Death (3:07): MP3

Courtesy of A.L. Nielsen's Incognito Lounge.

Segue Series Reading at the Ear Inn, New York, March 24, 1989

  1. Epigraphs from "Outlantish" (2:03): MP3
  2. Melin (1:31): MP3
  3. Irritable Mystic (2:01): MP3 [TEXT]
  4. Knotted Highness (3:05): MP3
  5. Degree Four (3:11): MP3
  6. Sweet Mystic Beast (3:42): MP3
  7. Amma Seru's Hammer's Heated Fall (4:50): MP3
  8. Alphabet of Ahtt (3:32): MP3
  9. Our Island (4:50): MP3
  10. Djbot Baghostus's Run (18:29): MP3
Complete reading (47:37): MP3

Reading at San Francisco State University, 1987

  • Mackey Reads from Dear Angel of Dust (27:02): MP3, RealAudio

St. Mark's Talks, April 24, 1985

"Sound and Sentiment, Sound and Symbol"

  1. On Sound and Sentiment (6:22): MP3
  2. On Sound and Symbol (4:43): MP3
  3. On phantom limbs (5:15): MP3
  4. On Legba (3:02): MP3
  5. On Jean Toomer (9:13): MP3
  6. On William Carlos Williams (20:11): MP3
  7. On the Caribbean and Legba (14:49): MP3
  8. On Williams and stumbling (4:54): MP3
  9. On Ellison (9:22): MP3
  • Talk by Nathaniel Mackey (1:18:24): MP3
  1. On limping (2:06): MP3
  2. On Sonny Rollins (6:35): MP3
  3. On music and writing (4:38): MP3
  4. On "Cane" (7:45): MP3
  5. On wholeness (9:24): MP3
  6. On partiality (14:47): MP3
  • Discussion (45:28): MP3

Also of Interest:

Mackey at University of Chicago (Poem Present)

Chant des Andoumboulou"("Song of the Andoumboulou")

Dogon Song, from the album Le Rituel Funeraire (Songs Of The Living - The Funeral Rites) (5:29): MP3
1956 Disques Ocora
Liner notes by Francois Di Dio:
"The Song of the Andoumboulou is addressed to the spirits. For this reason the initiates, crouching in a circle, sing it in a whisper in the deserted village, and only the howling of the dogs and the wind disturb the silence of the night" -- Di Dio quoted by Mackey in Eroding Witness (p. 31) [Note: Mackey refers to an album titled Les Dogon where the same cut, titled, "Chant des Andoumboulou" appears.]

Nathaniel Mackey on WUSP's "Talk of the Bary" (March, 2007)

Includes excerpts from the Dogon chant, Don Cherry and Glenn Spearman.

Nathaniel Mackey on PennSound Daily


© 2019 Nathaniel Mackey. Recordings available for non-commercial and educational use only. Distributed with permission by PennSound.