Poetry at Bard-(All Recordings) | Poetry at Bard

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.

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

Readings by Peter Lamborn Wilson and David Levi Strauss at Bard Hall

David Levi Strauss and Peter Lamborn Wilson

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. Wilson reads various poems and manifestos, while Strauss presents sections from "Odile and Odette," exploring relationships between words and images. Both authors touch on themes of imagination, history, and perception.
Tandy Sturgeon

Tandy Sturgeon

Reading given by Tandy Sturgeon at Bard College on May 21, 1976. Recorded in the Towbin Poetry Room, 7:00pm. The reading covers themes of dreams, tension, and literary influences like Dante. Sturgeon shares personal experiences, explores imagery and emotions, and presents various poems, including a 12-section work called "Trouble" and shorter pieces.
Anne Tardos

Anne Tardos

March 8th, 2001 in Olin 101. Tardos discusses her multilingual writing process, reads excerpts from various works, and explains her creative approach. She touches on her background, collaborations, and the interplay between text and images in her poetry.
Nathaniel Tarn

Nathaniel Tarn

Reading given by Nathaniel Tarn at Bard College on May 15, 1974, in the Poetry Room. Selections include poems from his collection ‘Lyrics For The Bride Of God.’ He explores themes of love, spirituality, and American history through a series of interconnected poems, blending personal experiences with literary and historical references.
Nathaniel Tarn Reading His Own Poetry

Nathaniel Tarn

May 1987 in the Towbin Poetry Room. Tarn shares poems on themes of place, relationships, and mythology, including pieces about New Mexico, hang gliding, and a reimagining of the Persephone myth.
Paul Violi

Paul Violi

Reading given by Paul Violi at Bard College, October 24, 1978. The poems cover diverse themes, including nature, horse racing, travel experiences, and surreal imagery. Violi intersperses commentary and context between readings, touching on personal anecdotes and literary references.
Diane Wakoski

Diane Wakoski

Reading given by Diane Wakoski at Bard College, October 25, 1975. Recorded in the Kline Commons (large room). First Towbin Poetry Festival. Wakoski reads and discusses several of her poems, including works about body image, relationships, and literary controversies. The reading includes personal anecdotes and reflections on her writing process.
Diane Wakoski

Diane Wakoski

Reading given by Diane Wakoski at Bard College on December 10, 1973. Recorded in the Towbin Poetry Room. Wakoski shares various works, including "Virtuoso Literature for 2 & 4 Hands," "The Fable of the Fragile Butterfly," and others, offering insights into her creative process and inspirations.
Judith Walcutt

Judith Walcutt

Reading given by Judith Walcutt at Bard College, April 15, 1976, in the Towbin Poetry Room. The poems cover various themes and styles, including older works from Walcutt’s college years, translations, and more recent compositions. The reading concludes with a longer narrative poem titled "Anna Grace."
Judy Walcutt

Judith Walcutt

Senior Project reading by Judy Wolcutt at Bard College on May 13, 1974. Recorded in South Hall, 7:00pm. Her work explores themes of dreams, color, mythology, and personal experiences. The reading includes selections from different projects and experiments with form and language.
Anne Waldman

Anne Waldman

Reading given by Anne Waldman at Bard College on November 11, 1978. The works cover themes of nuclear weapons, travel, relationships, and bodily experiences. The poems range from chants and collages to longer prose pieces, incorporating personal observations and cultural references.
Roseanne Wasserman

Roseanne Wasserman and John Ashbery

November 12th, 1993 Introduced by John Ashbery. Wasserman shares poems from various collections, including "The Lace Makers" and "Apple Perfume," covering themes of love, motherhood, and nature. Wasserman also discusses her writing process and collaborations.
WBAI Poetry Broadcasts - 1961

99.5 WBAI

Recorded broadcasts from 99.5 WBAI:

Side I, Left Track: Undated. Poems by:

Ed Dorn (‘Sousa’)

Paul Carroll (‘Father’)

John Logan (‘N.Y. Scene’)

Judson Jerome (‘Cages’)

Charles Tomlinson (2 poems)

Robert Duncan (‘Pindar’)

Reading and interview with Allen Ginsberg

Side I, Right Track:

Reading and interview with Robert Creeley (July 18, 1961)

Reading by Paul Blackburn (August 4, 1961)

Reading by Robert Kelly (July 29, 1961)
William Weaver: Verdi Lecture

William Weaver

September 2001 in Weiss Theater. Weaver discusses Verdi's operatic works and his development as a composer. He analyzes Verdi's musical style, influences, and innovations within the context of 19th-century Italian opera.
Benefit for 'El Corno Emplumado'

Norman Weinstein

Benefit reading for El Corno Emplumado (‘The Feathered Horn’) literary magazine on March 6, 1969. Procter Art Center, 9:00pm. Benefit hosted and introduced by Norman Weinstein; with readings by Norman Weinstein, Pierre Joris, Bruce McClelland, Joel Miller, James Gardner, Steve Kushner, a person identified only as “Gary,” Dr. Richard Clark, Robert Kelly, Peter Boffey, John Jule, Francios Cailliarec, “Murph,” and Rita Krause.
Norman Weinstein and James Garner

Norman Weinstein and James Garner

An evening of readings by James Garner & Norman Weinstein, with an introduction by Steve Kushner. Bard College, April 3, 1969. Garner and Weinstein read original poems covering themes like love, nature, childhood, and existential musings. They discuss their writing processes and inspirations, offering context for their work.
Theodore Weiss

Theodore Weiss

Reading given by Theodore Weiss at Bard College, March 8, 1967. Recorded in Albee Social, 8:30pm. Weiss shares personal anecdotes, explains the inspirations behind his work, and reads several poems, including pieces about nature, literary figures, and personal experiences.
Theodore Weiss

Theodore Weiss

Theodore Weiss taught at Bard from 1946 to 1966. He then accepted a position as Poet in Residence at Princeton, where he remained until 1987. This recorded reading takes place during a return visit to Bard, probably spring semester of 1976 (he says it's been 10 years). The poet discusses being reminded of Princeton upon returning to Bard, and relates a funny story about a group of Princeton students getting in trouble for playing volleyball in the nude. Weiss introduces each piece in elaborate detail. Titles included in this recording are: 1. Preface 2. Into Summer 3. The Fire at Alexandria 4. House of Fire 5. Moral 6. On Stuffing a Goose 7. The Life Of... 8. The Ultimate Anti-Entropy 9. Far Out Far In 10. This Letter 11. The Way it Works Out 12. A Gothic Tale.
Theodore Weiss

Theodore Weiss

Theodore Weiss giving a reading at Bard College, 1969. Audio quality poor. Weiss reads and discusses various poems, including works about fire, Alexandria, and personal experiences. He reflects on themes of mortality, exploration, and human connection, interspersing commentary with recitations of verse.
Theodore Weiss Reading at Bard

Theodore Weiss

Theodore Weiss reads and discusses several of his poems, reflecting on their inspirations and themes. He also shares anecdotes about other poets and his experiences teaching and writing poetry.
Marjorie Welish: Casting Sequences

Marjorie Welish and John Ashbery

Reading from "Casting Sequences" and new work introduced by John Ashbery. Her work explores themes of light, sound, art, and language, incorporating elements of surrealism and experimental poetry techniques.
Susan Wheeler

Susan Wheeler

March 13th, 1992 In Olin. Wheeler shares a variety of poems, including love poems and experimental pieces, and briefly discusses her writing background and influences.
John Wieners

John Wieners

Reading given by John Wieners at Bard College on May 24, 1966. Wieners reads and discusses his work, including poems from "The Hotel Wendley Poems" and newer collections. He reflects on his writing process, influences, and themes of love, desire, and urban life, while also commenting on poetic style and personal experiences.
Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams

Reading given by Jonathan Williams at Bard College on October 21, 1968. Recorded in Albee Social, 9:00pm. Williams shares poems spanning various themes, including nature, music, and American culture, while providing context and personal anecdotes about his inspirations and writing process.
Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams

Audio of a slideshow of photos of poets’ homes and graves presented by Jonathan Williams at Bard College, March 31, 1969. Williams has a wide-ranging presentation of photographs, primarily focusing on literary figures, architecture, and landscapes. He discusses American and British locations, including poets' homes, graves, natural landmarks, and architectural sites, providing historical and cultural context for each image shown.