One of the first enquiries of 2010 has been a request for information about Shakespearean 'original pronunciation', which was the subject of this blog some time ago. 'Is there anything in the pipeline by way of fresh productions?', my correspondent asks.
I know of one being planned, at the University of Kansas, where a production of A Midsummer Night/s Dream in OP is scheduled for towards the end of this year - an excellent choice, given the number of rhymes in that play which don't work in a modern English accent. I'll be involved in helping that event get off the ground. The director is Paul Meier, who many will know from his International Dialects of English Archive.
Judging by the number of requests I've had for the OP CDs, the interest is spreading, and there may well be some other activity going on that I don't know about. I don't know of anything that has happened in the UK other than the talks on the Sonnets in OP that I did during the year, and the associated write-up in Around the Globe 43, which will be online on my website soon.
One other thing has happened. The CD method was proving very awkward and time-consuming, so I've now replaced this by a direct downloading facility at the Pronouncing Shakespeare website, which is proving to be much more convenient for all.
1 comment:
A good omen to start the 2010 blog with Shakespeare!
It is very advantageous to practically 'see' through Your OP recordings the phonetic explanations given in "Pronouncing Shakespeare". Very useful and productive indeed.
Thank You for making it available to buy the CDs of Your full recordings, Professor. It is such a unique opportunity You realise!
As a way of note, I often try out the OP on MND, the musicality immediately emerges in the accurately rhymed lines of the magical play!
Looking forward to Your Globe article and accounts of new OP Shakespeariences!
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