Waywords and Meansigns
Waywords and Meansigns: Recreating Finnegans Wake [in its whole wholume] is an international project setting James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake to music. Waywords and Meansigns has released two editions of audio, each offering an unabridged musical adaptation of Joyce's book.
The project brought together a diverse array of musicians, with a different person performing each chapter. The musicians only requirements were that "the words be audible, unabridged and more or less in their original order". With a goal of making Joyce's famously obscure novel more accessible, all audio from the project is distributed freely online.[1]
Contents
Reception
Writing for The Guardian, Billy Mills considered Waywords and Meansigns as one of many Internet-based projects helping to make Joyce's famously obscure novel more approachable.[2] In his Flavorwire column "Alternative Routes", rock critic Jesse Jarnow applauded Waywords and Meansigns' for their innovative use of the digital platform.[3] While premiering advance audio from the second edition, Bort of Tiny Mix Tapes wrote "this massive undertaking will provide an endless supply of head scratches and cheers alike to its undertakers".[4]
While reviewing Neil Campbell's contribution in The Wire, Dan Barrow spoke positively of the overall project: "As a putative adaptation of the Wake, does the approach of Waywords and Meansigns work? Undoubtedly."[5] The James Joyce Centre dubbed the first edition "31 hours, 8 minutes, 11 seconds worth of delightful strangeness".[6]
The open information site and public domain blog Open Culture featured both editions of the project, writing of the first edition "as with all compilation albums, some tracks are better than others... It is definitely a labor of love."[7] Open Culture wrote of the second edition: "these artists try to transcend ordinary ways of reading great literature, and clearly have lots fun in the doing".[8]
Editions
First edition
The first edition of Waywords and Meansigns premiered on May 4, 2015.[9]
Track Listing
Book I
I.1 - Fall, pp. 3-29 - Mariana Lanari & Sjoerd Leijten, with Erik Bindervoet
I.2 - The Humphriad I: His Agnomen and Reputation, pp. 30-47 - Robert Amos; Chelidon Frame; Alan Ó Raghallaigh
I.3 - The Humphriad II: His Trial and Incarceration, pp 48-74 - Greg Nahabedian
I.4 - The Humphriad III - His Demise and Resurrection, pp. 75-103 - Un monton, torero; with Charlie Driker-Ohren & Walker Storz
I.5 - The Mamafesta, pp. 104-25 - Tim Carbone (of Railroad Earth)
I.6 - Riddles: The Personages of the Manifesto, pp. 126-68 - Kevin Spenst
I.7 - Shem the Penman, pp. 169-216 - Belorusia
I.8 - Anna Livia, pp. 196-59 - Dérive
Book II
II.1 - The Children's Hour, pp. 216-59 - Street Kids Named Desire; with Derek Pyle, Parker McQueeney, Zach Leavitt & Samuel Nordli
II.2 - The Studies, pp. 260-308 - Liz Longo & Izzy Longo, with Leo Traversa
II.3 - The Stories: Tavernry in Feast, pp. 309-82 - Hayden Chisholm
II.4 - Mamalujo, pp. 383-99 - Ryan Mihaly
Book III
III.1 - Shaun before the People, pp. 403-28 - Gareth Flowers (of International Contemporary Ensemble)
III.2 - Jaun before St. Bride's, pp. 428-73 - Steve Fly, with William Sutton
III.3 - Yawn under Inquest, pp. 474-554 - Peter Quadrino, Jake Reading & Evan James
III.4 - Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker and Anna Livia Plurabelle: Their Bed of Trial, pp. 555-590 - Graziano Galati
Book IV
IV.1 - Dawn: Return to the Beginning, pp. 593-628 - Mariana Lanari & Sjoerd Leijten; with Eloísa Ejarque, Grace Kyne-Lilley, & Erik Bindervoet.
Second edition
The second edition of Waywords and Meansigns premiered on February 2, 2016.
Track Listing
Book I
I.1 - The Fall, pp. 3-29 - Mr. Smolin & Double Naught Spy Car
I.2 - The Humphriad I: His Agnomen and Reputation, pp. 30-47 - David Kahne
I.3 - The Humphriad II: His Trial and Incarceration, the Acoustic Disturbance, pp 48-74 - Steve Gregoropoulos (of Lavender Diamond)
I.4 - The Humphriad III: His Demise and Resurrection, pp. 75-103 - Rio Matchett
I.5 - The Mamafesta of Anna Livia, pp. 104-25 - Neil Campbell
I.6 - Riddles: The Personages of the Manifesto, pp. 126-68 - Maharadja Sweets
I.7 - Shem the Penman, pp. 169-216 - Mike Watt & Adam Harvey (reportedly delayed; forthcoming in 2016)
I.8 - The Washers at the Ford (aka ALP), pp. 196-59 - Brian Hall & Mary Lorson
Book II
II.1 - The Children's Hour, pp. 216-59 - Robert Amos
II.2 - The Studies: Nightlessons, pp. 260-308 - Ollie Evans, Steve Potter & Co.
II.3 - The Stories: Tavernry in Feast, pp. 309-82 - Janken's Henchmæn
II.4 - Bride-Ship and Gulls, pp. 383-99 - Aleorta
Book III
III.1 - Shaun before the People, pp. 403-28 - SIKS
III.2 - Jaun before St. Bride's, pp. 428-73 - Kio Griffith
III.3 - Yawn under Inquest, pp. 474-554 - Hinson Calabrese (formerly of Tom Fun Orchestra)
III.4 - Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker and Anna Livia Plurabelle: Their Bed of Trial, pp. 555-590 - Conspirators of Pleasure (Poulomi Desai and Simon Underwood)
Book IV
IV.1 - Ricorso, pp. 593-628 riverrunning back to The Fall, pp. 3-29 - Graziano Galati
See also
References
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