These audio recordings have been digitized from a collection of cassette and open reel tapes of readings and lectures at Bard over the last 50 years. The collection was initially established with funds provided by the Carter A Towbin Poetry Fund in 1982 and first located in Albee Hall before moving to the Olin Building. Our hope is to use the recordings to help tell the story of Bard as an exuberant place for poetry for more than half a century.
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Gerard Malanga
Gerard Malanga
A reading by Gerard Malanga on May 9, 1974, Poetry Room (Preston 127) at 8:00pm. This recording features Malanga’s introspective and often melancholic poems. The reading is followed by brief conversations with attendees. Malanga's works explore themes of memory, death, and the passage of time through vivid imagery and personal reflections.
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Stuart R. Lavin and Gerard Malanga
Gerard Malanga and Stuart R. Lavin
A reading by S.R. Lavin and Gerard Malanga on December 9, 1975, Towbin Poetry Room. Lavin and Malanga read and discuss their original works, covering themes of love, nature, politics, and personal experiences. The reading includes both free verse and prose poems.
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Richard Marshall
Richard Marshall
A reading given by Richard Marshall at Bard College on April 12, 1983, Towbin. This transcript contains a poetry reading by Marshall, featuring his collection of emblematic prose pieces. The poems explore themes of love, memory, and perception through intricate imagery and philosophical reflections. The reading is followed by a brief discussion about Marshall's writing process and future projects.
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Bruce McClelland
Bruce McClelland
Bruce McClelland reading poetry from his fairy-tale-inspired collection The Märchen Cycle and assorted recent works at Bard College, December 14, 1978, in Ward Manor. The poems cover various themes including fairy tales, mythology, and personal reflections. The speaker provides context and explanations between readings, touching on literary influences and personal interpretations of the works presented.
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Samuel Menashe Reading His Poetry
Samuel Menashe
March 17th, 1987 at Kline Commons. Samuel Menashe taught literature at Bard in the 1950's and 60's. Menashe recites and discusses various poems from his collection, reflecting on his time at Bard, Biblical allusions, and personal experiences. The reading includes audience interaction and concludes with a Q&A session.
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W.S. Merwin
William Stanley Merwin
Reading given by W.S. Merwin at Bard College, December 3, 1974, at Bard Hall. With an introduction by Irma Brandeis. Merwin shares poems from various collections, interspersed with prose pieces, covering themes of nature, death, and time. The reading concludes with autumn-themed poems and a brief Q&A session announcement.
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W.S. Merwin
William Stanley Merwin
Reading given by W.S. Merwin at Bard College, March 20, 1967, in Bard Hall. Merwin shares poems from various collections, touching on themes of family, memory, survival, and environmental concerns. Merwin offers insights into his writing process and the meanings behind his poems.Audio incomplete.
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Paul Metcalf
Paul Metcalf
A reading by Paul Metcalf at Bard College, November 15, 1973, in the Towbin Poetry Room, 8:30pm. Metcalf reads excerpts from his works, including "Genoa" and "Patagonia," which blend historical facts, geography, and literary references. Metcalf discusses his writing process, literary influences, and experiences traveling in South America, followed by audience interactions.
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Thomas Meyer
Thomas Meyer
A reading given by Thomas Meyer at Bard College on February 26, 1976 in the Towbin Poetry Room, 9:00pm. The poems, mostly untitled and recent, explore themes of nature, perception, language, and existence. Meyer reflects on titling poems and reads several lengthy, introspective pieces with vivid imagery.
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Thomas Meyer '69 and Jonathan Williams
Thomas Meyer and Jonathan Williams
This reading took place on November 9th, 2001 and was part of the John Ashbery Poetry Series that ran from approximately 1995 to 2007 and brought leading contemporary poets to Bard for readings and discussion.
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Eric Mottram Reading His Own Works
Eric Mottram, Robert Kelly, and Pierre Joris
Introduced by Robert Kelly and Pierre Joris. November 18th, 1992. Mottram shares poems from various collections, touching on themes of travel, nature, estuaries, and peace. Mottram's poetry explores personal experiences, landscapes, and philosophical reflections.
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William Mullen: The Iliad
William Mullen
Book I of the Iliad. December 9th, 1987 in Olin 305. The reading includes dialogue between characters, descriptions of battles, and references to Greek gods. The text is fragmented and mixed with modern commentary.
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Richard Murphy
Richard Murphy
A reading given by Richard Murphy at Bard College, September 24, 1974, recorded in Bard Hall. Murphy reads and discusses poems about his childhood in Ceylon, life in Ireland, and experiences on High Island, touching on themes of colonialism, nature, and cultural identity.
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Howard Nemerov
Howard Nemerov
A reading given by Howard Nemerov at Bard College, September 6, 1965 at Albee Social. Audio quality poor. This transcript features Nemerov reading and discussing various poems, touching on themes of love, nature, religion, and human experience. He reflects on the creative process, personal anecdotes, and the meaning behind the verses, offering insights into poetic interpretation and inspiration.
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Harvey Nosowitz
Harvey Nosowitz
Reading given by Harvey Nosowitz at Bard College, October 3, 1974, in Bard Hall. The poems explore themes of family, memory, relationships, and sensory experiences. They range from recent compositions to older works, with vivid imagery and metaphors throughout the recitation.
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Alice Notley
Alice Notley
A reading given by Alice Notley at Bard College, March 15, 1979. The poems cover diverse themes including New York City life, friendship, love, and existential musings. The poet provides context and personal reflections between readings, offering insights into her creative process and inspirations.
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Rochelle Owens
Rochelle Owens
Poetry reading and theater lecture given by Rochelle Owens at Bard College, November 5, 1974, at South Hall Social. Owens reads various poems, discusses their theatrical work, and explores themes of imagination, collaboration, and the challenges of writing for theater versus poetry.
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Ronald Paulson: English Iconoclasm
Ronald Paulson
April 30th, 1986 (note: Recording Deteriorates). This reading discusses iconoclasm in 18th-century England, exploring its impact on art, literature, and society. It examines how artists like Hogarth and writers like Swift challenged traditional imagery, replacing religious icons with secular, commonplace objects and scenes, reflecting broader cultural shifts.
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Bob Pearlman
Bob Pearlman
March 21st, 2001 in Olin 101. The poems cover various themes, including dreams, identity, and social commentary. Pearlman intersperses readings with explanations and personal anecdotes, exploring language, symbolism, and literary references throughout the performance.
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Mary Poovey: What Should a Woman Want Now?
Mary Poovey
Lecture from the series "Feminism and Deconstruction" April 15th, 1987. Poovey discusses the contributions and limitations of both, proposing that feminism must incorporate deconstructive strategies to challenge traditional concepts of gender and sexuality, ultimately reimagining social and reproductive norms.
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George Quasha
George Quasha
Reading given by George Quasha at Bard College on March 4, 1975. Recorded in Bard Hall. He reads from various works, including "Soma Poetics" and "Wudjam," discussing dream writing, linguistics, and Buddhist concepts. Quasha explores wordplay, invented terms, and philosophical ideas throughout his presentation.
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George Quasha
George Quasha
Reading given by George Quasha at Bard College, October 27, 1975. Introduced by Robert Kelly. Recorded in Bard Hall. This recording features poems from "Soma Poetics" and other collections. He explores themes of love, death, and language, often referencing mythological figures and employing complex wordplay and metaphors in his verses.
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Indonesian Poets trans. Burton Raffel
Burton Raffel and Chairil Anwar
Reading and Q&A given by translator Burton Raffel at Bard College on November 23, 1965. Translations of Indonesian Poetry by W.S. Renora and Chairal Anwar. Raffel discusses the history, influences, and key figures of Indonesian poetry, including Amir Hamzah and Chairil Anwar, and the political and cultural challenges faced by Indonesian writers.
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Readings by Stephen Ratcliffe and John Ashbery
Stephen Ratcliffe and John Ashbery
This reading was part of the John Ashbery Poetry Series that ran from approximately 1995 to 2007 and brought leading contemporary poets to Bard for readings and discussion. Ratcliffe and Ashbury read selections from their recent works, with Ratcliff focusing on daily poems and Ashbery presenting pieces from his collection "A Worldly Country." The event includes introductions and concluding remarks.
