The Stanley K. Freiberg Project: Recent Episodes
naomi simpson
This is The Stanley K. Freiberg Project which celebrates the poetry, short stories, plays, essays, and songs of International Who's Who author, Dr. Stanley K. Freiberg.
Blake, Beethoven and Tempest is a philosophical play about the poetic imagination. Through his use of literary allegory, author Stanley K. Freiberg explores the lives, works, and creative ideologies of Romantic poet William Blake, and composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
The play is set on Prospero’s enchanted island from Shakespeare’s The Tempest where symphonies and literary characters at once materialize and then melt into thin air. Artistic influences and traditions appear and disappear from the dreamlike shared consciousness of Blake and Beethoven, both shipwrecked on the island.
After The Hidden City, a Poem of Peru was successfully adapted for the stage and produced to critical acclaim by Julian Cervello in 2015, Freiberg knew that Cervello would also be the one to bring Blake, Beethoven and the Tempest to the stage.
“That Julian Cervello has taken upon himself to adapt and direct the book-
length work for stage presentation is both gratifying and remarkable. His
skillful inclusions of Stephanie Johanson’s imaginative illustrations from the
original work enhance the production.”
— Stanley K. Freiberg” (The Hidden City Theatrical Programme, 2015)
Here, Cervello reads the Preface and Opening scene of Blake, Beethoven and The Tempest. It is his hope and Freiberg’s hope that this work will also be produced in the near future.
Destruction of the Petworth Dam, from On Gravel Roads: Tales of Early Ontario published by Newport Bay Publishing in 2004, is read by Julian Cervello. Julian is a theatre actor and director in Victoria who has been performing in film, tv, and the stage on both sides of the country of Canada for 25 years. He has been recognized and awarded for his one man Chaucer show, Canterbury Cocktails, performed entirely in Middle English.
Winter Rain (read by Naomi Simpson) is from On Gravel Roads: Tales of Early Ontario published in 2004 by Newport Bay Publishing Limited. Winter Rain is told in 5 chapters. The book, On Gravel Roads is dedicated in Memoriam to George and Ruth Grant of Bellrock, Ontario whose ancestral farm and legacy of recollections brought these stories into being.
Winter Rain (read by Naomi Simpson) is from On Gravel Roads: Tales of Early Ontario published in 2004 by Newport Bay Publishing Limited. Winter Rain is told in 5 chapters. The book, On Gravel Roads is dedicated in Memoriam to George and Ruth Grant of Bellrock, Ontario whose ancestral farm and legacy of recollections brought these stories into being.
Winter Rain (read by Naomi Simpson) is from On Gravel Roads: Tales of Early Ontario published in 2004 by Newport Bay Publishing Limited. Winter Rain is told in 5 chapters. The book, On Gravel Roads is dedicated in Memoriam to George and Ruth Grant of Bellrock, Ontario whose ancestral farm and legacy of recollections brought these stories into being.
Read by Iris MacGregor Bannerman
Dr. Iris studied theatre and drama at the Rose Bruford College for Speech and Drama, in London, England. Upon leaving College, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. A veteran performer with numerous roles on stage, film, television and radio, Iris then joined the National Theatre School in Montreal in 1971 as the Head of Voice and Speech. She then went on to become the Director of the Acting Program at Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto where she wrote the highly acclaimed curriculum for the four year Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She obtained her Ph. D. from the University of Toronto in 1995.
Since moving west, Iris has taught with the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, Cucumber Satellite, Lyric School of Acting and now with John Cassini at Railtown. Iris has been an integral part in developing outstanding professional actors. Her book on voice entitled "Think, Breathe, Speak" is highly sought after.
Summers End from the Baskets of Baghdad is read by Leanne Allen. Leanne Allen has been in media for twenty years as a producer, host, actor, writer, and is a single mom of two awesome kids.
Anaho of the Southstars; soft cover; 112 pages; Newport Bay Publishing. A contemporary story of Pyramid Lake, the University of Nevada, and downtown Reno interwoven with Paiute mythology and authentic historical episodes from America's westward movement.
A Fish Tale - read by actress Amanda Lisman "But she really liked to listen, over and over again, to the part of the story where the Lady saw this very special fish-eye- filling guy go glittering by."
Two Failures (Upon reading Emily Dickinson's poem I Died for Beauty) from Dignity of Dust read by actress Amanda Lisman.
Harbour of No Graves - Recollections of La Manche, Newfoundland read by actress Kassianni Austin.
"My ghost, high-timbered in the trees, is fleeing from the hill to meet me." - La Manche, read by Victoria actress Kassianni Austin.
Holes in the Sky: Stories of Discovery told in verse. Books available. Send us an email thestanleykfreibergproject@gmail.com and we would be happy to send you one for the price of postage. while supplies last.
Preface to the Banquet of Dominion: a literary, historic, scientific exploration of civilization's unblemished bond with savagery.
S.K. Freiberg "To Goya" Ariel International, April 1987 - recorded at Victoria Canada October 2019
Composer Freiberg recites the lyric for one of his 24 varied author tone poems which premiered at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
The Higher Innocence: At the grave of Blake (1757-1827); Bunhill Row, England
Read by Julian Cervello
The Stone Man of Trout Harbour is an unpublished poem by Stanley K. Freiberg read by Naomi Simpson.
But in the museum are your toys -
a few coloured blocks,
and a soldier,
arranged on a brilliant torn rug
where your black horse still prances.
Written by Stanley K. Freiberg in the Spring of 2019 and recorded in Victoria BC in September 2019. Read by the author.
Julian Cervello, director and ingenious adapter for the staged presentation of S.K. Freiberg's epic poem of the Inca Empire "from founding myth to echo" reads the Hidden City's astronomer seeing signs of the final conquest of the realm by Spanish invaders.
The Paracas, who inhabited coastal Peru over 2,000 years ago. excelled in the weaving of textiles. Their dead were wrapped in dramatically designed funeral shrouds and buried in desert tombs. SKF
read by Amanda Lisman
Dedicated to the Iraqi people, read by Amanda Lisman.
http://basketsofbaghdad.blogspot.com/
Flight into Egypt was first printed in Christian Century Magazine (Chicago).
Read by Brian Linds
Freddy Bye
In the days when the Grand Banks were crowded with fish, Newfoundland
youngsters earned money and admiration by cutting cod tongues as hauls
were landed, weighed, and swiftly transported from the harbour stages.
Read by Brian Linds
Dedicated to Ballerina Nina Semirzorova, May 1, 1985, Moscow. Swan Lake at the Bolshoi; Words and Music by S.K. Freiberg arranged by Zachary Power and Elisabeth Wagner, read by celebrated actress Amanda Lisman.
The Building of the Wall was published in Nightmare Tales by Borealis Press Limited in 1980. Read by Naomi Simpson.
The Road to Wyandot from Holes in the Sky: Stories of Discovery is read by Scrumpy Theatre Founder and director Julian Cervello.
Fjord houses settled on high cliffs surround Newfoundland’s remote southeastern coast harbour. Read by actress Naomi Simpson.
At spring time in Iraq, the Tigris River brings the destitute, silt, soil, and debris for crafting handmade huts for living space and toleration of the summer's heat. Read by Naomi Simpson.
From 2004's On Gravel Roads: Tales From Early Ontario, Hiram Hiller's Medicine Show is performed and recorded by Brian Linds with post audio by Graeme L. Mick.
Theatre Inconnu's Artistic Director and renowned actor Clayton Jevne reads The Burning of the Tree from On Gravel Roads.
The preface to this five act drama of the Mogul Empire from 1631 -168I, Jahanara, Daughter of the Taj Mahal, read by author Stanley K. Freiberg, contrasts the dynasty's rampant dedication to conquest with the practice of peace fostered by Jahanara and Dara, the first born children of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The work, researched within the framework of authentic history, unveils Jahanara’s little known life-long humane endeavours benevolence, and legacy of love. It is housed in Special Collections at the University of Victoria, BC, Canada.
Trump, Edith Hamilton, William Blake, and Wordsworth:
Written and recorded in the Spring of 2018, this essay explores current world events through scholastic comparison with both Classical Mythology and Romantic English Literature.
Part One: Auschwitz; June 5, 1986 - read by Brian Linds
Part Two: The Salt Mines of Wieliczka; June 11, 1986 - read by Iris McGregor Bannerman
Part Three: The Paulite Monastery, Jasna Gora; June 4, 1986 - read by Julian Cervello
Part Four: The Art Gallery of Wladyslau Hasior, Zakopane; June 15, 1986 - read by Naomi Simpson
Epilogue
Stan's signature short poem speaks to the multiple facets of time and the lone human being's perception of it. Unadorned and forlorn in it's singular beauty, the author composed tone poem is arranged by pianist Tim Plait of the Victoria Conservatory of Music and read by celebrated actress Amanda Lisman.
The Cesspool from On Gravel Roads; Tales of Early Ontario, read by film star Gary Farmer.