John Webster's Romantics CD collection: versatile*, enduring**, and imaginative*** gifts from £5.95 to £9.95
Complete collection £24.95
All available from Booksystems Plus bsporders@aol.com 01223 894870
VERSATILE - See below how to create up to four extra compilations at no extra cost.
ENDURING - Great lyrics take on new meanings with the passage of time.
IMAGINATIVE - Giving the supreme exponents of the imagination a new and contemporary voice.
THE SHELLEY STORY and LORD BYRON AND THE GREEK WAR
Folk-based, rock-influenced song versions of the poets' lyrics by John Webster with Brindaband (see 'People'), with narration voiced by Shelley admirer Benjamin Zephaniah provide a unique immersion in the poets' world. The two CDs are essentially music albums with an extra dimension given by the narrative - stories of courage and ambition in turbulent times, and lasting gifts for young minds, and those interested in poetry, literature, politics and history.
What the critics said: On the Shelley Story
‘Attractive, engaging’ - The Times; ‘Absorbing and novel...Shelley's radical spirit comes through loud and clear' - The Morning Star; ‘Intelligent and profound’ - The Independent on Sunday; ‘Well worth a listen’ - Eastern Daily Press
What the educational press said:
‘I liked these CDs, not just for their quirkiness but for what they're trying to do’ - The Times Educational Supplement; 'Well played and well recorded - highly appropriate for post-16 studies' - National Association for the Teaching of English journal (on 'Lord Byron and the Greek War'); 'This CD would be a welcome additional resource for any 11 to 18 year old studying Shelley who would like a quick but knowledgeable and authoritative way into their subject. It may also be of use to teachers of humanities and of history - as it describes the momentous changes taking place in the early nineteenth century' - School Librarian )
THE SHELLEY STORY
Written by John Webster, narrated by Benjamin Zephaniah
Includes 11 'Shelley songs' performed by Brindaband. Hear samples at Songtracks.
Format: CD, spoken word and music, running time: 58 minutes, ISBN: 0953584003
Price: £12.95 from bookshops, £9.95 from Booksystems Plus (email: bsporders@aol.com Tel: 01223 894870)
Shelley's turbulent life story, his engagement with contemporary politics (originating the phrase 'the many not the few') and his hopes for the future are brought out in the narrative which gives context to the poet's work as presented in song form. 'A project close to my heart' - Benjamin Zephaniah.
Includes the songs: Paradise of Exiles, Rise like lions, Wild Spirit, Spirit of Delight, Heart of hearts, The Pine Forest, The Triumph of Life, Immortal Deity, The funeral, Adonais, The World's Great Age.
LORD BYRON AND THE GREEK WAR
Written by John Webster, narrated by Benjamin Zephaniah, includes 7 'Byronic songs' performed by Brindaband. Hear samples at Songtracks.
Format: CD, spoken word and music, running time: 56 minutes, ISBN number: 09535840 11, Price: £12.95 (£9.95 from BSP)
The bittersweet story of the poet's final exploit, his journey to Greece to support the Greek War of Independence in 1823/4. The story begins in Ravenna in 1821, traces Byron's growing interest in contemporary movements for national independence, and describes his decision to join the Greek uprising against foreign rule. The narrative is based on eyewitness accounts of Byron's journey, contains a number of reconstructed dialogues, and includes 5 song versions of Byron lyrics and 2 'narrative songs'. Also available from Amazon.co.uk.
Includes the songs: (Lord Byron's) Freedom song, Lord B. in motion, Half a Scot by birth, Marathon, Setting sail from Genoa, Epitaph, So, we'll go no more a-roving.
AND THE CD THAT COMPLETES THE SONG COLLECTION AND LETS YOU CREATE UP TO FOUR MORE MUSIC COMPILATIONS:
MY ROMANTICS EP
Seven songs written by John Webster with lyrics by Keats, Byron, Leigh Hunt and Shelley. Performed by Brindaband. Format: music CD, running time 23.40 mins. Available from Booksystems Plus for £5.95 inc. p&p.
Includes 4 extra Romantics songs plus 3 new versions of songs from The Shelley Story and Lord Byron and the Greek War. Stands on its own as a mini-collection, and also supplements the two CDs. Includes a contribution from Leigh Hunt, and lyrics by Keats, Shelley and Byron. Presented in card packaging.
Track listing: 1. Jenny kissed me (medley, the poets on love), 2. To Autumn (Keats, beauty and change) 3. On the shore (Keats, mortality) 4. Many a green isle (Shelley, hope) 5. Marathon (Byron, active liberalism) 6. Paradise of Exiles (Shelley, universal spirit) 7. The world's great age (Shelley, democratic progress)
ORDER ALL 3 CDs FROM Booksystems Plus for £24.95 INCLUDING p&p.
Register your purchase with Pathfinder Audio for news and more: Tel: 01865 765436 or pathfinderaudio@googlemail.com.
Lyrics and context at Lyrics
A TOTAL OF 25 SONGS! MAKE YOUR OWN COMPILATIONS....
If you possess all three CDs you can will then have a total of 25 songs drawing on around two dozen key Romantic lyrics from which you create four extra song compilations – 'John Keats's sublime single', 'Courageous Heart: seven Byronic songs', 'Percy Bysshe Shelley: Rock Star' and 'The First Fab Four' which is a compilation album representing all four poets.
1, A John Keats single
Track listing: 1. To Autumn 2. On the Shore (tracks from My Romantics EP)
2, A Shelley solo album (From The Shelley Story (TSS) and My Romantics EP (MREP)
1. Paradise of Exiles (MREP) 2. Rise like lions (TSS) 3. Wild Spirit (TSS) 4. Spirit of Delight (TSS) 5. Heart of hearts (TSS) 6. The Pine Forest (TSS) 7. Many a green isle (MREP) 8. The Triumph of Life (TSS) 9. Immortal Deity (TSS) 10. The funeral (TSS) 11. Adonais (TSS) 12. The World’s Great Age (MREP) (37 mins.)
3, A Byron solo album (From ‘Lord Byron and the Greek War’ (LBGW) and 'My Romantics EP' (MREP)
Courageous Heart: seven Byronic songs: 1. (Lord Byron’s) Freedom song (LBGW) 2. Lord B. in motion (LBGW) 3. Half a Scot by birth (LBGW) 4. Marathon (LBGW) 5. Setting Sail from Genoa (LBGW) 6. Epitaph (LBGW) 7. So we’ll go no more a roving (LBGW) 8. Marathon (reprise) (MREP) (23 mins)
A compilation album from all 3 CDs
The First Fab Four: 1.Jenny kissed me (MREP) 2.Lord B. in motion (LBGW) 3. To Autumn (MREP) 4. Rise like lions (TSS) 5. Wild Spirit (TSS) 6. On the shore (MREP) 7. Many a green isle (MREP) 8. The funeral (TSS) 9. Adonais (TSS) 10. Marathon (MREP) 11.Setting sail from Genoa (LBGW) 12. Epitaph (LBGW) 13. The World’s Great Age (MREP) 14. So late into the night (LBGW) (45 mins)
If burning CDs isn't your thing contact us and we can make them up for you. Please send enquiries to: pathfinderaudio@ googlemail.com
Free stuff: For connections between Shelley and John Lennon see:
'Through a Shelleyan lens: the life and death of John Ono Lennon'.
There are also pictures of Shelley locations at Pictures and lyrics for all the songs at 'Lyrics/commentaries' or 'Education/Discovery', where there is a free audio life of John Keats. Also the essay 'Byron and Islam' explores an aspect of Byron with contemporary resonance.
Themed downloads
TWO SONGS FOR MICHAEL JACKSON - 1958-2009
ADONAIS * ON THE SHORE
The English poets sing the King of Pop to his rest. Two songs by John Webster with Brindaband drawing on lyrics by Keats and Shelley
'Adonais' (vocals: Ruth Murray) available from 'PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY: ROCKSTAR'
Click Here to download in iTunes
'On the shore' from 'JOHN KEATS'S SUBLIME SINGLE'
Click Here to download in iTunes