The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Music
Momento Ritmico and Papete aru by Piero Umiliani
Opus 13 from Sven Libaek's score to The Set
French Doll by Larry Ashmore and David Francis
The wonderful Sewentuwa by Hailu Meriga
Wave I by Elor Saxl
Green by Hiroshi Yoshimura
NotesI originally learned about the Elephantine Colossus years ago in David McCullough's Brooklyn... and How it Got That Way, which still holds up.
Apr 4
13 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Music
Un geant dans la mer and Triste soiree III from the score to Marie et les naufrages by the genius, Sebastian Tellier.
Love is Blue by Jackie Mittoo and the Soul Vendors.
Rocky Passage by Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer
Morris Visits Dr. Pratt from John Barry's score to The Wrong Box
Adios Muchachos from Andre Popp
Moonlight in Vermont from the great Dorothy Ashby.
Midnight Moon by The Portland Cello Project
Dance PM by Hiroshi Yoshimura
And we hear Blind Andy Jenkins' "Floyd Collins in Sand Cave" followed by Vernon Dalhart doing the same song under the name, "The Death of Floyd Collins." We also hear Jimmy Osbourne do Andy's, "The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus."
Notes
I have a note in my years-long running list of possible story ideas that says, "event songs," but I could never remember why. Then I was reading Charles Hirschberg and Mark Zwonitzer's, Will You Miss me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family & Their Legacy in American Music and was reminded of Andy's story (that book is great).
I also recommend the always-useful, Country Music USA, by Bill C. Malone for more on Andy and his era as well as Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity by Richard A. Peterson.
If you want more about poor Floyd Collins, you could turn to Robert K. Murray and Roger W. Bruckner's, Trapped!: The Story of Floyd Collins.
Mar 21
17 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Music
Abisme by Shida Shahadi
Ellen’s Image from Lalo Schiffiren’s genius score to The Fox
Circulation by H. Takahasi
Liquid Spear Waltz from Michael Andrews’ score to Donnie Darko
A8 from a terrific record called NuNu by Clever Austin
NotesI found a lot of insight in a terrific book called Extraordinary Beliefs by Peter Lamont. In it, there’s a smart historical, psychological exploration of why spiritualism was able to flourish despite all sorts of evidence opposing it.
Mar 7
12 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
Una Bravata from Carlo Rustichelli’s score to Amici Miei.
Sunshine on Fish Skin by Girls in Airports.
The Vienna Glass Armonica Duo performs Mozart’s Adagio for Glass Harmonium.
The Fellowship by John Shabason
Notes
The best read on Mills is a 2022 article by Nate Hopper in The New Yorker about the challenges of keeping time on the internet.
Feb 10
12 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
Je ne pas si c’est tout le monde - Theme Comedie from Vincent Delerm’s score to the film of the same, long name.
Forbin’s Hi Fi from Michel Colombier’s score to Colossus: The Forbin Project
Boo’s Lullaby by Maria Chiara Agriro and Jamie Leeming
Helle (Ballade) from the great Phillipe Sarde score to that picture.
L’Espagne pour memoire from Michel Portal’s score to Un et a la garoupe
The Rain Never Stops on Venus by Michael Wollney
Je t’ai meme pas dit by Vincent Delerm.
From a Dream by Oregon
A version of Narcisus for Clarinet and Electronics as played by Thea Musgrave.
Notes
Good sources if you want to know more are Peter Manseau’s book about spirit photography and the spiritualist age (Cutting intersects interestingly with that crea), The Apparitionists, as well as this article by Jerry Ryan about the history of aquariums in Boston.
Jan 14
17 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
This is a special holiday bonus episode, a sequel to Episode 210. You’ll want to listen to that one first.
Music
The Parisienne by the Henri Crolla Ensemble
Violette… by Philippe Sarde
Gift by Makasuta Takagi
The Sammy Herman Sextet plays The Bells of St. Mary’s
Dec 22, 2023
8 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
I Believe in the Night by Keith Kenniff
Improvisations sur les folies d’Espagne (extraits) from Marin Marais and Jordi Savall
Finally by Lambert
Voltige by Marin Lizotte
Violin Solo no. 1 by Peter Broderick
Fratres fur violin und klavier by Avro Part as played by Ursula Schloch and Marcel Worms
Dungen by Henrik Lindstom
Notes
There are plenty of places to go to read about Smoky and Bill but why would want to go anywhere else than his book, Yorkie Doodle Dandy?
Dec 1, 2023
18 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
We move between three different pieces from Camille Saint-Saens': Suite, Op. 90: II Menuet, and two from Carnival of the Animals:Aviary and the Cuckoo in the Heart of the Woods.
We hit Juneau from Danny Bensi and Sander Jurriaans' score to Wildlike.
And The Waltz from their score to 5 to 7.
And there's a total gem from George Mukabi called Dila Ni Dila in there too.
Notes
Do yourself a favor and read Frances Hamerstrom's autobiography, My Double Life: Memoirs of a Naturalist.
Do your kids a favor and Jeannine Atkins take on Frances in her book Girls Who Looked Under Rocks.
And then watch Frances teach David Letterman how to cook a snake.
Nov 17, 2023
18 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
Dave Pajo/Aerial M does Plastic Energy Man
Patricia Rossborough played To a Wild Rose
Mal Waldron plays Warm Canto
We hear Muff Gets a Share from Joel P. West’s score to Band of Robbers
We hear another song I absolutely love, Turned Out I Was Everyone, by Sasami
We finish on Popcorn and Life from Ben Sollee’s lovely score to Maidentrip.
Oct 7, 2023
16 min
The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Music
The Theory by Clem Leek
Hiddensee by Caeys
The Clock Tower by Hampshire and Foat
Notes
If you want to know more about Gardner, I’d suggest Witness to an Era: the Life and Photographs of Alexander Gardner, by Mark Katz.
On Brady, Matthew Brady: Portraits of a Nation, by Robert Wilson.
I’d also suggest reading the New York Times’ review of the exhibit. It’s pretty stunning.
Sep 21, 2023
12 min
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