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Charles Olson

PoemTalk #34,Bob Perelman, Rachel Blau DuPlessis and Charles Bernstein discuss Olson's Maximus poems, July 26, 2010

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

Reading from Maximus, vol. 2, Beloit College (March 26, 1968)


Complete reading (50:51): MP3
  • Introduction (0:47): MP3
  • out over the land skope [II.126] (3:14): MP3
  • Part of the Flower of Gloucester [II.127] (0:38): MP3
  • Veda upanishad edda than [II.128] (0:15): MP3
  • Wrote my first poems [II.129] (1:27): MP3
  • the 1st lot from the Cutt [II.130] (0:31): MP3
  • I am the Gold Machine [II.131] (1:47): MP3
  • In the harbor [II.132] (0:11): MP3
  • Kent Circle Song [II.133] (0:24): MP3
  • I swung out, at 8 or 10 [II.134] (0:12): MP3
  • JW (from the Danelaw) [II.135] (0:59): MP3
  • proem [II.136-137] (4:12): MP3
  • not the intaglio method [II.138] (0:16): MP3
  • mother-spirit to fuck at noumenon [II.139] (0:16): MP3
  • Monday, November 26, 1962 [II.140] (0:22): MP3
  • he who walks with his house on / his head [II.141] (0:16): MP3
  • she who met the serpent in the pond [II.142] (0:23): MP3
  • the woman who said she went out every Sunday [II.143] (0:21): MP3
  • into the Stream or Entrance to the Inner Harbor [II.144] (0:26): MP3
  • The Frontlet [II.145] (0:57): MP3
  • Homo Anthropos [II.146] (0:22): MP3
  • to enter into their bodies [II.147] (1:02): MP3
  • The Cow / of Dogtown (3:38) [II.148-150]: MP3
  • Stage Fort Park [II.151] (1:15): MP3
  • Further Completion of Plat (before they drown / Dogtown with reservoir, and beautify it) [II.152] (2:41): MP3
  • Sequentior [II.153] (0:46): MP3
  • Licked man (as such) out of the ice [II.154] (0:25): MP3
  • Gylfaginning VI [II.155] (0:37): MP3
  • Heaven as sky is made of stone [II.156] (0:18): MP3
  • All night long [II.157] (0:31): MP3
  • the Vault / of Heaven [II.158] (0:28): MP3
  • turn out your / ever-loving arms [II.159] (0:42): MP3
  • at the boundary of the mighty world [II.160-162] (7:46): MP3
  • Maximus, from Dogtown — IV [II.163-172] [excerpt] (2:12): MP3
  • I looked up and saw / its form [II.173] (0:14): MP3
  • One of the Bronze Plaques Which Decorate These / Shores [II.174] (0:25): MP3
  • A Letter, on Fishing Grounds [of, The Gulf of Maine] by Walter H. Rich [II.175-176] (1:59): MP3
  • Maximus, to Gloucester, Letter 157 [II.177-178] (2:16): MP3

    • "Poetry and Truth," at Beloit College, Wisconsin. March 25-29, 1968

    • Lecture I, Cosmology: March 25, 1968 (54:46): MP3

    • Lecture II, Belief 1: March 27, 1968 (52:10): MP3

    • Lecture III, Belief 2: March 29, 1968 (56:34): MP3
         Poems read in Lecture III:
      38:26 - 39:29: "*Added to making a Republic in gloom on Watchhouse Point" Maximus III 190 / 584
      53:32 - 54:40: '"Additions", March 1968--2' ["Wholly absorbed / into my own conduits..."] Maximus III 191 / 585
      55:05 - 56:20: "That there was a woman in Gloucester, Massachusetts..." Maximus III 189 / 583


    • On Black Mountain: March 26, 1968 (1:18:45): MP3

    Complete recording of all four lectures and the talk (4:04:04): MP3

    Olson and his translator Klaus Reichert, Akademie der Künste, Berlin,  Dec. 15, 1966

    Event: "Ein Gedicht und sein Autor. Lyrik und Essay." Olson reads his poem in memory to Rainer Maria Gerhard, and "Maximus, to Himself."

    •"To Gerhardt, There, Among Europe's Things..." (excerpts: opening section and the segues to section 5, "the stick is a reminder" the end of the poem)     text (2:39): MP3

    •"Maximus, to Himself" ["I have had to learn the simplest things last"] (1:43): MP3 | text

    •Comments: "The problem of the USA today is the power which is in the raiding party. But like it’s an idea, a paramilitary idea, moves in advance of a nation, thereby eventually giving a language." Olson then expresses his outrage that Andrei Voznesensky has said, days before at the Library of Congress, that "the poets of America weren’t close to our people." (1:34): MP3

    •Complete reading (22:53): MP3

     

    Thanks to Norbert Lange for this recording

    Richard Moore USA: Poetry Documentary with Denise Levertov, 1966

      Reading at UC Berekely, 1965

    • Complete Recording, (31:48)MP3
    • Recording courtesy of Michael Davison

    USA: Poetry (NET), directed by Richard Moore (excerpts), Gloucester, March 12, 1966

    "Letter # 41 [broken off]" [Maximus II:1](text: sroll down) and "Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 [withheld]" [Maximus II:14-15] text: scroll down to "with a leap")
    Watch on Media.sas
    Watch on Media.sas



    Includes "The Librarian" [Collected Poems 412-14]; video on right just the poem (text)

    Watch on Media.sas
    Watch on Media.sas

    Audio from these videos:

    "Letter # 41 [broken off]" [Maximus II:1] (1:13): MP3
    "Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 [withheld]" [Maximus II:14-15] (2:44): MP3 text
    "The Librarian" [Collected Poems 412-14] (3:34): MP3 text

    "Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 (withheld)" is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 34.

    Reading at the Berkeley Poetry Conference, July 23, 1965

    Introduction by Robert Duncan.

    The legendary lecture was transcribed by Zoe Brown and published at Charles Olson Reading at Berkeley by Coyote Press (San Francisco, 1966).

    • Complete recording (3:18:18): MP3

    This recording is courtesy of David Levi Strauss.

    Part 1 (of the same lecture; slightly clearer audio) (1:07:32): MP3


    Readings and Conversations at the Berkeley Poetry Conference, July 12-24, 1965

    At Gratwick's Highlands, November 16, 1963

    1. Tape 1 of 2 (1:37:26): MP3
    2. Tape 2 of 2 (1:06:57): MP3
      3. (recording courtesy of Robert Creeley)

    At the Vancouver Poetry Festival, August 16, 1963

    1. Maximus, from Dogtown II [II;9-10] (4:18): MP3
    2. Maximus, to himself as of 'Phoenicians' [II:111] (1:14): MP3
    3. Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 [withheld] [II-14-15] [1:5-8] (2:14): MP3, TEXT, youtube
    4. Maximus, further on (December 28th, 1959) [II:13] (1:11): MP3
    5. The Poem (0:28): MP3
    6. River #1 (1:19): MP3
    7. River #2 (0:46): MP3
    8. Okeanos' Dream (1:18): MP3
    9. The South East Wind (1:20): MP3
    10. I Tell You It's Cruel (2:34): MP3
    11. Three Poems (1:45): MP3
    12. Of Old Times (2:12): MP3
    13. They said she went off (0:23): MP3
    14. A Maximus (2:08): MP3
    15. A coast is not the same as land (9:59): MP3
    16. Maximus Letter Whatever (2:19): MP3
    17. First Stevens Song (1:22): MP3
    18. Upward Choking on Dogtown (1:17): MP3
    19. I force the calm grey waters (1:08): MP3
    20. By the way into the woods (0:22): MP3
    21. The rock listens to itself (0:42): MP3
    22. Later Tyrian Business [II:36] (1:26): MP3
    23. For Robert Duncan Who Understands (8:48): MP3
    24. Further Completion of Platt (3:58): MP3
    25. Untitled (1:11): MP3
    26. A Prayer (0:37): MP3
    27. All having breakfast (0:59): MP3
    28. Gee Avenue (0:25): MP3
    29. Where is the B. Elery (0:11): MP3
    30. Maximus Written to be a note to myself (about Stevens) (3:01): MP3
    31. 23 School and 16 Columbia (2:12): MP3
    32. I Stand on Main St. (0:33): MP3
    33. Letter 72 (1:46): MP3
    34. Descartes solider in a time of religious wars (0:45): MP3
    35. In the interleaved almanacs of 1646 (1:55): MP3
    36. Of the Parsons (3:33): MP3
    37. The Beginnings (5:38): MP3
    38. Maximus at the Harbour (2:56): MP3
    39. 2nd Century Song (7:10): MP3
    40. from "Fort Point section," Maximus II [II:83ff] (7:40): MP3
    41. from Maximus II, final poems [II:199- 202] (5:33): MP3
    42. The Songs of Maximus [I.13-16] (6:22): MP3
    43. Maximus, to Himself ("I have had to learn the simplest things / last ...") [I:52-53] text (2:26): MP3
    44. The Blue Monster (0:57): MP3
    45. The Lordly & Isolate Satyr (8:38): MP3
    46. Le Bonheur (2:22): MP3
    47. The Charge (2:37): MP3
    48. Spring (1:16): MP3
    49. As the Dead Prey Upon Us (10:25): MP3
    50. Kingfishers (6:31): MP3
    51. Letter 3 ("Tansy buttons ...") [I:9-16] (8:00): MP3

    Complete reading (2:45:53): MP3

    These recordings were originally made available to the Slought Foundation by Fred Wah. PennSound publication made with thanks to Slought and with the permission of Fred Wah and the Olson Estate.

    "Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 (withheld)" is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 34.

    At Goddard College, April 12-14, 1962

    Reading and lecture, April 12th: MP3 (1:55:31)
    Kyle Schlesinger's transcript of the event: PDF

    Discussion of Herman Melville, April 14th: MP3 (1:55:31)

    These recordings were originally made available to PennSound by Kyle Schlesinger. Special thanks to Goddard College archivist Forest Davis.

    Reading in Boston, June 1962

    1. Maximus to Gloucester (3:05): MP3
    2. So Sassafras (3:33): MP3
    3. Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 (withheld) (2:11): MP3 [TEXT]
    4. An Ode on Cape Ann (1:01): MP3
    5. from Maximus IV (1:02): MP3
    6. View (1:44): MP3
    7. Chronicles (1:43): MP3
    8. The Gulf of Maine (3:02): MP3
    9. Maximus, from Dogtown I (6:25): MP3
    10. Going Right Out of the Century (0:50): MP3
    11. Maximus, to Gloucester, Letter 15 (4:14): MP3
    12. A Later Note on Letter #15 (1:11): MP3
    13. Letter 41 (1:02): MP3
    14. Maximus, from Dogtown II (3:36): MP3
    15. The Distance (2:03): MP3
    16. The Librarian (2:52): MP3
    17. To Gerhardt, There, Among Europe's Things... (12:52) text: MP3
    18. In Cold Hell, In Thicket (8:12): MP3
    19. ABC (0:53): MP3
    20. Letter, May 2nd 1959 (4:13): MP3

    Complete Reading (1:08:51): MP3

    "Maximus to Gloucester, Letter 27 (withheld)" is also featured on PoemTalk Episode 34.

    Reading for Bob and Bobbie Creeley, c.1960s, location unknown

    • Salutation and Reading of John Burke (3:42): MP3
    • The Librarian (3:15): MP3
    • Intro to a set of poems and reading of a narrative (3:26): MP3
    • Short Poems and The Song (1:56): MP3
    • Letters 24 to 27 (12:54): MP3
    • The Picture and Maximus Home Again (3:43): MP3

    Christmas Tape Reading, 1957

    • Track 1 (31:05): MP3
    • Track 2 (4:42): MP3
    • Track 3 (14:33): MP3
    • Track 4 (6:43): MP3
    • Track 5 (5:08): MP3
    • Track 6 (54:45): MP3

    Complete recording (1:50:12): MP3

    At San Francisco State University, 1957

    From Maximus, vol. 1

    1. I, Maximus of Gloucester, to You [I.1] (4:01): MP3
    2. The Songs of Maximus [I.13-16] 3:11): MP3
    3. Maximus, Letter 7 (Marsden Hartley's eyes) [I:30-38] (5:44): MP3
    4. Maximus, Letter 10 [1:45-51] (3:39): MP3

    From Maximus, vol. 2

    1. Letter 14 (6:11): MP3
    2. Letter 15 (5:12): MP3
    3. Maximus, The Twist (3:40): MP3
    4. Second Century Song (0:30): MP3
    5. Anecdotes of the Late War (0:43): MP3
    6. The Love of Anat (0:34): MP3
    7. The O'Ryan Poems (3:32): MP3

    Studio Recording at Black Mountain College, made by Robert Creeley c. 1954, first issued as a record

    • The Songs of Maximus (3:15): MP3
      • Song 1 (0:40): MP3
      • Song 2 (0:23): MP3
      • Song 3 (1:16): MP3
      • Song 4 (0:36): MP3
      • Song 5 (0:10): MP3
      • Song 6 (0:06): MP3
    • The Kingfishers (8:01): MP3
      • The Kingfishers 1 (1:20): MP3
      • The Kingfishers 2 (1:24): MP3
      • The Kingfishers 3 (1:30): MP3
      • The Kingfishers 4 (1:38): MP3
      • The Kingfishers II (2:05): MP3

    • Complete Reading (11:31): MP3

    * Note that The Kingfishers III is not included (thanks to Steve Evans for listing)

    Selected Letters of Robert Creeley 146 (Creeley to Duncan, September 24, 1955):

    Dennie [Denise Levertov] had persuaded me to bring out a record Charles and I made here, a year ago, to play for him [Mitch Goodman]; which we did, and clearly he was moved, by it, i.e., he got the poems as obviously the page had never given them to him. And spoke, then, of how it changed everything.

    Also of Interest:

    Readings at Berkeley, Buffalo, and Vancouver (date unknown)

    1. Introduction (0:56): MP3
    2. John Burke (1:37): MP3
    3. The Librarian (3:18): MP3
    4. Maximus (5:50): MP3
    5. Letter 24 (3:10): MP3
    6. Letter 25: A Plantation a Beginning (2:56): MP3
    7. Letter 26: Maximus to Gloucester (3:30): MP3
    8. Maximsus to Himself text [this recording same as Vancouver above (2:23): MP3
    9. Songs of Maximus: Song 1 (3:45): MP3
    10. Tansy Buttons (5:47): MP3
    11. Poem of Spring based on a poem by Rimbaud (5:01): MP3
    12. In Cold Hell, In Thicket (8:53): MP3
    13. Maximus from Dog Town I (7:01): MP3
    Complete Reading (56:35): MP3
    (recording courtesy of Ron Silliman)

    Also on PennSound

    Robert Creeley reads Charles Olson's "Maximus, to Gloucester," Key West Literary Seminar, 2003 - (more information at Littoral)

    • Complete recording (5:15) MP3

    Charles Olson 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's estate. © 2004-2007, The Estate of Charles Olson. Used with permission of the Olson Estate. Distributed by PennSound.