Difference between revisions of "Poets in Prison"

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[[Poets in Prison]] is Delia's name for ''Poetry from Prison'' in which poems written by people in prison, many awaiting the death sentence, are set to music.
 
[[Poets in Prison]] is Delia's name for ''Poetry from Prison'' in which poems written by people in prison, many awaiting the death sentence, are set to music.
  
It was produced by [[Edward Lucie-Smith|Edward "Ted" Lucie-Smith]] who also translated some of the poems,<ref>[[DD104100]]: "War" translated by Edward Lucie-Smith.</ref> and performed in summer 1970 at the City of London Festival.<ref>Kirstin Cubitt's article [http://delia-derbyshire.net/Dial%20a%20tune/ Dial a Tune]</ref>
+
It was produced by [[Edward Lucie-Smith|Edward "Ted" Lucie-Smith]] who also translated some of the poems,<ref>[[DD104100]]: "War" translated by Edward Lucie-Smith.</ref> and performed at the 1970 [[City of London Festival]]<ref>Kirstin Cubitt's article [http://delia-derbyshire.net/Dial%20a%20tune/ Dial a Tune]</ref> in June-July.<ref>The City of London Festival takes place over two to three weeks in June and July.</ref>
  
ELS sent Delia a series of suitable poem texts on 30th January 1970, and paid her for her work on 21st July 1970. We don't know which poem texts were used, but Delia's papers contain musical note sequences for a dozen poems and her manuscript scores for half a dozen.  
+
ELS sent Delia a series of suitable poem texts on 30th January 1970, and paid her for her work on 21st July 1970.
  
=Poems=
+
Delia's papers contain musical note sequences for
The following groups her papers according to the poems she may have used:
+
* [[Poets in Prison - Intro|Intro]]
 +
* [[#Anne Boleyn|Anne Boleyn]]
 +
* [[#Chidiock Tichborne: Elegy For Himself|Elegy For Himself]] by Chidiock Tichborne
 +
* [[#Lullaby of the Onion|Lullaby of the Onion]] by Miguel Hernández
 +
* [[#Mary Queen of Scots|Mary Queen of Scots]]
 +
* [[#War|War]] by Miguel Hernández
 +
as well as some scores not yet associated with their poems.
 +
 
 +
=Papers=
 +
The following subsections group her papers according to the poems they relate to:
  
 
==[[Anne Boleyn]]==
 
==[[Anne Boleyn]]==
 
"O death! rock me on sleep, / Bring me on quiet rest;" ...
 
"O death! rock me on sleep, / Bring me on quiet rest;" ...
* [[DD101814]] "Poetry from Prison /74": Poem text for Anne Boleyn  
+
<gallery>
* [[DD101850]] Poem text for Anne Boleyn /2
+
Image:DD101814.jpg|[[DD101814]] "Poetry from Prison /74": Poem text for Anne Boleyn  
* [[DD101837]] Slip of paper with "part sung / part spoken" handwritten on it
+
Image:DD101850.jpg|[[DD101850]] Poem text "Anne Boleyn /2"
* [[DD103136]] Notes for "ANNE BOLEYN" / words - tune -- written - harmony" "Use hummed second lower line + git. asints. & before?"
+
Image:DD101837.jpg|[[DD101837]] Slip of paper with "part sung / part spoken" handwritten on it
* [[DD103149]] Note sequences "G C D Eb" "O rock sleep ..."
+
Image:DD103136.jpg|[[DD103136]] Notes for "ANNE BOLEYN" / words - tune -- written - harmony" "Use hummed second lower line + git. asints. & before?"
* [[DD103208]] Note sequences "G C D Eb" "Yet on sleep for qui-et..."
+
Image:DD103149.jpg|[[DD103149]] Note sequences "G C D Eb" "O rock sleep ..."
 +
Image:DD103208.jpg|[[DD103208]] Note sequences "G C D Eb" "Yet on sleep for qui-et..."
 +
</gallery>
  
==Earl Rivers==
+
==[[Earl Rivers]]==
 
"Somewhat musing / And more mourning..."
 
"Somewhat musing / And more mourning..."
* [[DD103102]] "EARL RIVERS" (title page for the following)
+
<gallery>
* [[DD103115]] Poem text "Anthony Widville, Earl Rivers":
+
Image:DD103102.jpg|[[DD103102]] "EARL RIVERS"
* [[DD103125]] Poem text "Earl Rivers /2"
+
Image:DD103115.jpg|[[DD103115]] "Anthony Widville, Earl Rivers"
 +
Image:DD103125.jpg|[[DD103125]] "Earl Rivers /2"
 +
</gallery>
  
==Edward II==
+
==[[Edward II]]==
 
"On my devoted head / Her bitterest showers..."
 
"On my devoted head / Her bitterest showers..."
* [[DD101938]] Poem text for EDWARD II, translated by Edward Lucie-Smith
+
<gallery>
* [[DD102731]] Notes: "EDWARD II"
+
Image:DD101938.jpg|[[DD101938]] Poem text, translated by Edward Lucie-Smith
 +
Image:DD102731.jpg|[[DD102731]] Notes: "EDWARD II"
 +
</gallery>
  
==[[Elegy For Himself]] by Chidiock Tichborne==
+
==Chidiock Tichborne: [[Elegy For Himself]]==
 
"My prime of youth is but a frost of cares; / My feast of joy is but a dish of pain;" ...
 
"My prime of youth is but a frost of cares; / My feast of joy is but a dish of pain;" ...
* [[DD101757a]] Poem text for Chidiock Tichborne's ''Elegy For Himself''
+
<gallery>
* [[DD103252]] Notes "TICHBOURNE" (blank)
+
Image:DD101757a.jpg|[[DD101757a]] Poem text
* [[DD103312]] Note sequences "Bb Ab Gb F" "S.F. router but first..."(?)
+
Image:DD103252.jpg|[[DD103252]] Notes "TICHBOURNE: Guitar coming in early under comm.t"
* [[DD103342]] Note sequences "Bb  G F  G Bb C" "The day is past & you saw no sun..."
+
Image:DD103312.jpg|[[DD103312]] Note sequences "Bb Ab Gb F" "S.F. router but first..."(?)
* [[DD103405]] Note sequences "Bb F ... D C" "My per I but for of" (?)
+
Image:DD103342.jpg|[[DD103342]] Note sequences "Bb  G F  G Bb C" "The day is past & yet saw no sun..."
* [[DD103418]] Note sequences for "Tichborne": "C A G ... A C
+
Image:DD103405.jpg|[[DD103405]] Note sequences "Bb F ... D C" "My per I but for of" (?)
 +
Image:DD103418.jpg|[[DD103418]] Note sequences "Tichborne" "C A G ... A C"
 +
</gallery>
  
==Elizabeth I==
+
== Elizabeth I: [[Written On A Wall At Woodstock]] ==
 
"Oh, fortune, thy wresting wavering state / Hath fraught with cares my troubled wit..."
 
"Oh, fortune, thy wresting wavering state / Hath fraught with cares my troubled wit..."
* [[DD103240]] Poem text "Elizabeth I"
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD103240.jpg|[[DD103240]]
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Francis==
 
==Francis==
* [[DD103043]] Notes "FRANCIS (p.20. / ELS: note to begin - recited on pitch. / chord at end of each 2 lines. / becoming more complex."
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD103043.jpg|[[DD103043]] Notes
 +
</gallery>
  
==House of the Man Athirst==
+
==[[House of the Man Athirst]]==
 
by Miguel Hernandez, translated by Edward Lucie-Smith.<BR>
 
by Miguel Hernandez, translated by Edward Lucie-Smith.<BR>
 
"I am desert sand, / dearth of thirst..."
 
"I am desert sand, / dearth of thirst..."
* [[DD102100]] Poem text for "HOUSE OF THE MAN ATHIRST"
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD102000.jpg|[[DD102000]] Poem text
 +
</gallery>
  
==James I of Scotland==
+
==[[James I of Scotland]]==
* [[DD102801]] "James I of Scotland": "When as I lay in bed alone waking..."
+
"When I lay in bed alone waking, / New partit out of sleep a little tofore,..."
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD102801.jpg|[[DD102801]] Poem text
 +
</gallery>
  
==Lullaby of the Onion==
+
==[[Lullaby of the Onion]]==
* [[DD102841]] Notes for "LULLABY OF THE ONION"
+
by Miguel Hernández<ref>[https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/lullaby-onion ''Lullaby of the Onion''] on poets.org</ref>
* [[DD102857]] Note sequence: E|G E-E D|E - E - ..." on the back of of [[DD102821]]
+
<P>
* [[DD102935]] Notes: "TUNE I "Lullaby" V.2" "In the cra-dle of hun-ger..."
+
Delia's notes suggest that her music for this consists of two tunes: Tune&nbsp;I and Tune&nbsp;II.
* [[DD102945]] Notes "T.I ? V4" "Bird in laugh out a-laysth in you(?)"
+
<gallery>
* [[DD103007]] Notes "TI V11" "tomorrow they will be..."
+
Image:DD101901.jpg|[[DD101901]] "Poetry from Prison /73": Typewritten lyrics: "The onion is frozen / stubborn and poor..."
* [[DD103030]] Notes: "T II" "Mixture of laughing and flying - higher register"
+
Image:DD102841.jpg|[[DD102841]] Notes "LULLABY OF THE ONION"
 +
Image:DD102821a.jpg|[[DD102821a]] Letter dated 27th Feb. from [[Edward Lucie-Smith]] to Delia.
 +
Image:DD102821b.jpg|[[DD102821b]] Delia's notes: "See bit (or 6i+)" "E E G E (G) D C E (AG) A C A ... A G F A A" "hun-ger my child sleeps.."
 +
Image:DD102857.jpg|[[DD102857]] Note sequence: E|G E-E D|E - E - ..."
 +
Image:DD102935.jpg|[[DD102935]] Notes: "TUNE&nbsp;I "Lullaby" V.2" "In the cra-dle of hun-ger..."
 +
Image:DD102945.jpg|[[DD102945]] Notes "T.I&nbsp;? V4" "Bird in laugh out a-laysth in you[?]"
 +
Image:DD103007.jpg|[[DD103007]] Notes "TI V11" "tomorrow they will be..."
 +
Image:DD103030.jpg|[[DD103030]] Notes: "T&nbsp;II" "Mixture of laughing and flying - higher register"
 +
</gallery>
  
==Mary Queen of Scots==
+
==[[Mary Queen of Scots]]==
* [[DD103441]] Poem text for "Mary Queen of Scots" "Alas! what am I! and in what estate?" (****)
+
Delia's papers contain the texts for two of Mary QoS's poems:
* [[DD103529]] Poem text "Mary, Queen of Scots" "O Domine Deus! Speravi in Te, / O care mi Iesu! nunc libera me..."
+
* "Alas! what am I! and in what estate?..."
* [[DD103457]] Notes "MARY Q. OF SCOTS"
+
* "O Domine Deus! Speravi in Te..."
* [[DD103516]] Note sequences: "(G D) A G / G E D / G A G" "Ca Je su lib ra in te met OR can Je news va bet"(?)
+
and note sequences for the second of these. For details, see [[Mary Queen of Scots]].
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD103441.jpg|[[DD103441]] Text of Poem I: "Alas! what am I! and in what estate?..."
 +
Image:DD103529.jpg|[[DD103529]] Text of poem II: "O Domine Deus! Speravi in Te, / O care mi Iesu! nunc libera me..."
 +
Image:DD103457.jpg|[[DD103457]] Notes "MARY Q. OF SCOTS"
 +
Image:DD103516.jpg|[[DD103516]] Note sequences for poem II: "(G D) A G / G E D / G A G" "Ca Je su lib ra in te met OR can Je nunc va bet"[?]
 +
</gallery>
  
==Richard Coeur de Lion==
+
==[[Richard Coeur de Lion]]==
* [[DD102650]] Notes: "RICHARD COEUR DE LION"
+
<gallery>
* [[DD102714]] Poem text: "Richard Coeur de Lion"
+
Image:DD102650.jpg|[[DD102650]] Notes: "RICHARD COEUR DE LION"
* [[DD102723]] Poem text: "Richard Coeur de Lion /2"
+
Image:DD102714.jpg|[[DD102714]] Poem text: "If captive wight attempt the tuneful strain..."
 +
Image:DD102723.jpg|[[DD102723]] Poem text: "Richard Coeur de Lion /2"
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Sir Thomas Seymour==
 
==Sir Thomas Seymour==
 
"Forgetting God to love a king / Hath been my rod, or else nothing..."
 
"Forgetting God to love a king / Hath been my rod, or else nothing..."
* [[DD103230]] Poem text: "Sir Thomas Seymour"
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD103230.jpg|[[DD103230]] Poem text
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Tartars==
 
==Tartars==
* [[DD102638]] Notes: "TARTARS"
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD102638.jpg|[[DD102638]] Notes: "TARTARS"
 +
</gallery>
  
==[[That's How It Goes]]==
+
==Nazim Hikmet: [[That's How It Goes]]==
by Nazim Hikmet.<BR>
 
 
"Am in the middle of a spreading light, / my hands inspired, the world beautiful." ...
 
"Am in the middle of a spreading light, / my hands inspired, the world beautiful." ...
* [[DD101757b]] Poem text for Nazim Hikmet's ''That's How It Goes''
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:DD101757b.jpg|[[DD101757b]] Poem text
 +
</gallery>
  
==War==
+
==[[War]]==
"Old age in the villages, / heart without a master" ...
+
"Old age in the villages, / heart without a master"
* [[DD104100]] Poem text "WAR"
+
<gallery>
* [[DD103607]] Notes: "WAR" "DD Tape acc.t"
+
Image:DD104100.jpg|[[DD104100]] Poem text "WAR"
* [[DD103625]] Notes: "WAR II" "Same notes for each verse"
+
Image:DD103607.jpg|[[DD103607]] Notes: "WAR" "DD Tape acc.t"
* [[DD103642]] Notes: "WAR I" "chords are bass 8ths +8ves..."
+
Image:DD103642.jpg|[[DD103642]] Notes: "WAR I" "chords are bass 8ths +8ves..."
* [[DD104341]] Manuscript "Old age in the villages, Heart without a master..."
+
Image:DD103625.jpg|[[DD103625]] Notes: "WAR II" "Same notes for each verse"
 +
Image:DD104341.jpg|[[DD104341]] Manuscript "Old age in the villages, Heart without a master..."
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Waters of Babylon==
 
==Waters of Babylon==
 
* [[DD102523]] Notes: "WATERS OF BABYLON"
 
* [[DD102523]] Notes: "WATERS OF BABYLON"
 +
 +
==Unidentified scores==
 +
These papers have note or chord sequences or conventional score but we don't know which poems they're for:
 +
* [[DD102650]] Note sequences: "Eb C D B Eb C D B / On rot ten shore All fight storm tune pours[?]..."
 +
* [[DD103733]] Note sequences: "C G A A F G" "Ev. time ch tae in th..."(?)
 +
* [[DD103841]] Manuscript "Intro"
 +
* [[DD103908]] Manuscript "Intro: The sky above the roof top is blue..."
 +
* [[DD104304]] VCS3 dope sheet "POETRY FROM PRISONS" effects "FISHES 1" "FISHES 2" "WHALES"
  
 
=Other papers=
 
=Other papers=
 
The whole folder of these papers can be viewed [http://delia-derbsyhire.net/papers/thumb.html#PoetsInPrison here].
 
The whole folder of these papers can be viewed [http://delia-derbsyhire.net/papers/thumb.html#PoetsInPrison here].
* [[DD101901]] "Poetry from Prison /73": "The onion is frozen / stubborn and poor..."
 
 
* [[DD101920]] "Poetry from Prison /75"
 
* [[DD101920]] "Poetry from Prison /75"
 
* [[DD101929]] "Poetry from Prison /76"  
 
* [[DD101929]] "Poetry from Prison /76"  
Line 106: Line 162:
 
* [[DD102435]] Notes: "Tape treatment"
 
* [[DD102435]] Notes: "Tape treatment"
 
* [[DD102454]] Notes: "Timetable - Lute Chittaronte(?)"
 
* [[DD102454]] Notes: "Timetable - Lute Chittaronte(?)"
* [[DD102650]] Note sequences: "Eb C D B Eb C D B / On rot ten shore All fight storm tune pours(?)..."
 
 
* [[DD102821]] Letter dated 27 Feb. to Delia "How are things going?"
 
* [[DD102821]] Letter dated 27 Feb. to Delia "How are things going?"
* [[DD103720]] Notes: "sung & played" + list of pieces : "Anne Boleyn: only accompaniment"
+
* [[DD103720]] Notes: "Sung & played: Richard Coeur de Lion, Edward II, Francis, Titchbourne. Played (acc.t): Ann Boleyn" + list of pieces: "Anne Boleyn: only accompaniment"
* [[DD103733]] Note sequences: "C G A A F G" "Ev. time ch tae in th..."(?)
 
* [[DD103841]] Manuscript "Intro"
 
* [[DD103908]] Manuscript "Intro: The sky above the roof top is blue..."
 
 
* [[DD103921]] Notes: "Do: Treat Hedley" Quomodo..." / "I caught myself in my instrumental strings"
 
* [[DD103921]] Notes: "Do: Treat Hedley" Quomodo..." / "I caught myself in my instrumental strings"
 
* [[DD103934]] Letter dated Friday 26th June to Delia "Herewith a full script of the programme..."
 
* [[DD103934]] Letter dated Friday 26th June to Delia "Herewith a full script of the programme..."
Line 121: Line 173:
 
* [[DD104153]] Handwritten poem text: "Even such is time which takes in trust / Our youth, and joys and all we have..."
 
* [[DD104153]] Handwritten poem text: "Even such is time which takes in trust / Our youth, and joys and all we have..."
 
* [[DD104226]] "Fx M/U": Table headed "POEM - TAPE1 - TAPE 2 - TAPE 3 - NOTES"
 
* [[DD104226]] "Fx M/U": Table headed "POEM - TAPE1 - TAPE 2 - TAPE 3 - NOTES"
* [[DD104304]] VCS3 dope sheet "POETRY FROM PRISONS" effects "FISHES 1" "FISHES 2" "WHALES"
 
  
 
=Availability=
 
=Availability=

Latest revision as of 15:55, 5 July 2021

Poets in Prison is Delia's name for Poetry from Prison in which poems written by people in prison, many awaiting the death sentence, are set to music.

It was produced by Edward "Ted" Lucie-Smith who also translated some of the poems,[1] and performed at the 1970 City of London Festival[2] in June-July.[3]

ELS sent Delia a series of suitable poem texts on 30th January 1970, and paid her for her work on 21st July 1970.

Delia's papers contain musical note sequences for

as well as some scores not yet associated with their poems.

Papers

The following subsections group her papers according to the poems they relate to:

Anne Boleyn

"O death! rock me on sleep, / Bring me on quiet rest;" ...

Earl Rivers

"Somewhat musing / And more mourning..."

Edward II

"On my devoted head / Her bitterest showers..."

Chidiock Tichborne: Elegy For Himself

"My prime of youth is but a frost of cares; / My feast of joy is but a dish of pain;" ...

Elizabeth I: Written On A Wall At Woodstock

"Oh, fortune, thy wresting wavering state / Hath fraught with cares my troubled wit..."

Francis

House of the Man Athirst

by Miguel Hernandez, translated by Edward Lucie-Smith.
"I am desert sand, / dearth of thirst..."

James I of Scotland

"When I lay in bed alone waking, / New partit out of sleep a little tofore,..."

Lullaby of the Onion

by Miguel Hernández[4]

Delia's notes suggest that her music for this consists of two tunes: Tune I and Tune II.

Mary Queen of Scots

Delia's papers contain the texts for two of Mary QoS's poems:

  • "Alas! what am I! and in what estate?..."
  • "O Domine Deus! Speravi in Te..."

and note sequences for the second of these. For details, see Mary Queen of Scots.

Richard Coeur de Lion

Sir Thomas Seymour

"Forgetting God to love a king / Hath been my rod, or else nothing..."

Tartars

Nazim Hikmet: That's How It Goes

"Am in the middle of a spreading light, / my hands inspired, the world beautiful." ...

War

"Old age in the villages, / heart without a master"

Waters of Babylon

Unidentified scores

These papers have note or chord sequences or conventional score but we don't know which poems they're for:

  • DD102650 Note sequences: "Eb C D B Eb C D B / On rot ten shore All fight storm tune pours[?]..."
  • DD103733 Note sequences: "C G A A F G" "Ev. time ch tae in th..."(?)
  • DD103841 Manuscript "Intro"
  • DD103908 Manuscript "Intro: The sky above the roof top is blue..."
  • DD104304 VCS3 dope sheet "POETRY FROM PRISONS" effects "FISHES 1" "FISHES 2" "WHALES"

Other papers

The whole folder of these papers can be viewed here.

  • DD101920 "Poetry from Prison /75"
  • DD101929 "Poetry from Prison /76"
  • DD101950 Letter from Ted to Delia dated 30th January "Herewith a batch of photostats to brood on"
  • DD102148 Letter dated 21st July 1970 to Delia "herewith cheque for Poetry from Prison..."
  • DD102201 Notes: "Library make-up tape / 1.Superflumen / 2.monks / 3.low vroom..."
  • DD102357 General notes
  • DD102422 Notes: "Timetable - ASK ELS - SOUND F/X"
  • DD102435 Notes: "Tape treatment"
  • DD102454 Notes: "Timetable - Lute Chittaronte(?)"
  • DD102821 Letter dated 27 Feb. to Delia "How are things going?"
  • DD103720 Notes: "Sung & played: Richard Coeur de Lion, Edward II, Francis, Titchbourne. Played (acc.t): Ann Boleyn" + list of pieces: "Anne Boleyn: only accompaniment"
  • DD103921 Notes: "Do: Treat Hedley" Quomodo..." / "I caught myself in my instrumental strings"
  • DD103934 Letter dated Friday 26th June to Delia "Herewith a full script of the programme..."
  • DD103951 Notes: "VCS3 for high phrases" "Fish p.47" etc.
  • DD104011 Table headed "Poem - Tape 1 - Tape 2"
  • DD104036 Table headed "T1 - T2" "1a Wind for Superflumen"
  • DD104046 "Id[?] keep still / wind etc down to final level" "Start 237"
  • DD104112 Letter dated 24th July 1970 from Hedley to Delia: "Thank you for your recent letter - I have enclosed your cheque"
  • DD104153 Handwritten poem text: "Even such is time which takes in trust / Our youth, and joys and all we have..."
  • DD104226 "Fx M/U": Table headed "POEM - TAPE1 - TAPE 2 - TAPE 3 - NOTES"

Availability

References

  1. DD104100: "War" translated by Edward Lucie-Smith.
  2. Kirstin Cubitt's article Dial a Tune
  3. The City of London Festival takes place over two to three weeks in June and July.
  4. Lullaby of the Onion on poets.org