Digging deeper into our Fall of America tribute project:
Scanner (Robin Rimbaud) has evolved his Elegy for Neal Cassady with Ginsberg’s voice, into an expanded live performance with visual work by Antonio Pagano, which they premiered last November in Berlin, produced by Jesse Goodman alongside the Allen Ginsberg Estate, as part of the Speech Is Not Free festival.
Scanner writes:
“I chose this poem at first simply for the name itself, and once I heard the reading — the repetition and the slight pressure in Ginsberg’s voice — the sense of affection was clear. I chose to create an aural environment, a kind of macabre blanket of sound, connecting to recollections that put the whole together. There’s a profoundly moving tone to this poem, so I tried my utmost to maintain this throughout.”
Speaking in Berlin, Jesse Goodman, reflected on the work’s expansion:
“When I heard this track for the first time, this stunning piece of music to Allen’s poetry, I didn’t want it to end. I immediately imagined what it might be like if the piece could be expanded into a full performance. The Berlin presentation was the first time that wish was realised.”
The visual narrative for the live work was created by Antonio Pagano, responding directly to Scanner’s audio and to the cadence of Allen’s voice.
Elegy for Neal Cassady
Can you hear me talkin’
calling your spirit
aged consciousnesses, murmuring
sadly to myself.
Happy as light released by the Day
Spirit become spirit,
or robot reduced to Ashes.
Tender Spirit, thank you for touching me with
tender hands.
When you were young, in a beautiful body,
Such a pure touch it was Hope beyond Maya—
O Spirit,
Sir spirit, forgive me my sin,
Sir spirit give me your blessing again,
Sir Spirit forgive my phantom body’s demands,
Sir Spirit thanks for your kindness past,
Sir Spirit in Heaven, What difference was yr
mortal form,
What further this great show of Space?
Sir Spirit, and I drift alone:
Oh deep sigh.
Hadja no more to do? Was your work all done?
Had ya seen your first son?
Why’dja leave us all then?
Has the battle been won?
the world is released,
desire fulfilled, your history over,
story told, Karma resolved,
prayers completed
vision manifest, new consciousness fulfilled,
spirit returned in a circle,
world left standing empty, buses roaring through
streets—
garbage scattered on pavements galore—
Grandeur solidified, phantom-familiar fate
returned to Auto-dawn,
your destiny fallen on RR track
My body breathes easy,
I lie alone,
living
After friendship fades from flesh forms—
heavy happiness hangs in heart,
I could talk to you forever,
The pleasure inexhaustible,
discourse of spirit to spirit
10 February 1968, 5–5:30 AM