Friday 8 July
from 14:00 CEST until 12:00 noon on Saturday 9 July
David Buckland
RiverRun
“a way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs” - Finnegan’s Wake, James Joyce
RiverRun interrogates how Rivers are ecological arturaries of human and non-human well-being. In the UK and throughout Europe our rivers are seriously polluted from human waste release, farm run-off of nitrates, phosphates and animal waste, and algae growth.
Among this detritus, RiverRun celebrates just how magical a river can be – inspirational, healing, and imbedded into our own psyches - musically celebrated by so many artists.
For twenty-two hours a soundscape explores the chalk rivers of Dorset – home to salmon runs, eco-diversity, the sound of beauty, creatures, and magic. Through the spoken word, learned papers, fables, harvested hydroponic creatures, the dawn chorus, and the work of science, RiverRun brings what we have and what we stand to lose.
David Buckland creator and founder of the Cape Farewell project, an artist, filmmaker, and ecological activist has created and directed RiverRun.
A team of sound artists, writers, poets, scientists, anthropologists, narrators, and musicians have contributed in force:
Adrian Newton, professor, and sound artist
David Rogers, electricbackroom Studio
Lynn Davy, Zoologist
Helen Moore, eco poet
Professor Veronica Strang, Writer, and author of Water, Nature and Culture, The Meaning of Water and Water Beings (to be publisher March 2023)
Kenneth Grahame, author, Wind in the Willows
Narrators: David Buckland, Dr. Paul Baird, Mandi Bissett, Dr. Kate MacMonnies.
Music includes: Handel’s Water Music, Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the Yellow River Cantata, Talking Heads- Take me to the River, Al Green – Take me to the River, Bruce Springsteen-the River, Old Man River, PJ Harvey-Down by the River, Kawa no Nagare no Yo ni, Joni Mitchell-River, Ferry Crossed the River, Billy Joel-River of Dreams, Patti Smith-Pissing in the River ….
RiverRun 22 hour radio broadcast script
22 one hour radio chapters.
Each chapter starts with a reading from Finnegans wake using different voices and voice treatments:
“a way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs”
Chapter 1. 2pm
‘Take me to the River’ performed by Talking Heads
Joyce/Dr Paul Baird
Conversation with David Buckland and river sounds - Adrian Newton
Chapter 2. 3pm
Joyce/Prof. Veronica Strang
The River – Bruce Springsteen.
Helen Moore reading Dorset Waterbodies - a Common Weal with River mix by Adrian Newton
[Helen Moore was commissioned by Cape Farewell to write her long form poem over a period of a year in 2021, working with river scientists, farmers and artists in Cape Farewell’s RiverRun project first exhibited at Lighthouse in Poole November 2021]
Chapter 3. 4pm
Joyce/Buckland
Wind in the Willows Chapter 7 - The Piper at the Gate read by Mandi Bissett in German
Pink Floyd: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
[Pink Floyd first album inspired by The Piper at the Gate]
Chapter 4. 5pm
Joyce/Mandi Bissett
Pink Floyd: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Sounds of the PONDS by Adrian Newton and David Rogers.
German River report read by Dr Paul Baird in German
[Adrian Newton, Lyne Davy and David Rogers spent three days staying in the Artists Residency at the WaterShed/Cape Farewell HQ recording river, pond, bird sounds in partnership with David Buckland. A joyous time of Natures cacophony, festive dinners and wonderful exchanges of ideas. They also recorded Dr Paul Baird, a resident of Sydling St Nicholas who is the drummer in Cell Division]
Chapter 5. 6pm
Joyce/Prof Veronica Strang
Prof, Veronica Strang reading from: WaterBeings: From Nature Worship to the Current Environmental Crises
Strauss Blue Danube Waltz.
Underwater Sounds scape by Adrian Newton
Veronica Strang reading from her book: Water - Nature and Climate
Underwater Sounds scape by Adrian Newton
[Veronica Strang, a cultural anthropologist, has written many books all focused on Water, what it is, what it means and why we must protect it as it suffers from human expansion. She travelled down from Oxford to the WaterShed to spend a day reading from her books and sharing her passion for all things water]
Chapter 6. 7pm
Joyce/Dr Paul Baird
Handels Water Music.
[Handel was commissioned to write the Telemann suites in response to George 1’s request for a concert on the River Thames. “At about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 July 1717, King George I and several aristocrats boarded a royal barge at Whitehall Palace, for an excursion up the Thames toward Chelsea. The rising tide propelled the barge upstream without rowing. Another barge, provided by the City of London, contained about 50 musicians who performed Handel's music. Many other Londoners also took to the river to hear the concert. According to The Courant, "the whole River in a manner was covered" with boats and barges. On arriving at Chelsea, the king left his barge, then returned to it at about 11 p.m. for the return trip. The king was so pleased with Water Music that he ordered it to be repeated at least three times, both on the trip upstream to Chelsea and on the return, until he landed again at Whitehall.[2]” Wikipedia ]
Chapter 7. 8pm
Joyce/Mandi Bissett
River Allen Recordings: Adrian Newton
Strauss - Blue Danube Waltz
The Wind in the Willows, Chapter1. Mandi Bissett reading in French.
[Mandi Bissett co-directs Cape Farewell with David Buckland. Fluent in four languages, Mandi is a passionate European and in despair over Brexit]
Chapter 8. 9pm
Joyce/Sarah Washington
Lynn Davy - conversation and Bats: River Allen in Wimbourne Minster, Dorset
To include Bats music and river sounds and bird sounds.
[Botanist Lynn Davy in conversation with David Buckland and they follow the River Allen through Wimbourne - Pure Urban Joy]
Chapter 9 10pm
Joyce/Buckland
PJ Harvey - Down by the Water
Adrian Newton - Sounds from a walk down the Sydling Water
Dr Paul Baird reading in German the State of River report.
Chapter 10. 11pm
Joyce/Buckland
Adrian Newton - Sounds from a walk down the Sydling Water
Down the River to Pray – Alison Kraus
Wind in the Willows, Chapter 1, read by Dr Kate McMonies [with Liverpool accent]
Adrian Newton - Sounds from a walk down the Sydling Water
Chapter 11. 12pm
Joyce Dr Paul Baird
The Yellow River Cantata, Moscow/Western rendition. Xian Xinghai
Chapter 12. 1am
Joyce/Dr Paul Baird
Dawn Choris – David Rogers. The WaterShed
Chapter 13. 2am
Joyce/ Mandi Bissett
Down by the River- Neil Young
Veronica Strong reading from ‘The Rights of Rivers’. Poly Higgans – Ecocide: destruction of the natural environment by deliberate or negligent human action.
Old Man River / Paul Robeson
Veronica Strong reading from The Meaning of Water.
River -Joni Mitchell
Down by the River – Alison Kraus
Pissing in the River – Patti Smith
Chapter 14. 3am
Joyce/Sarah Washington
The Water Music. Handel
Chapter 15. 4am
Joyce / Veronica Strang
Dawn Choris David Rogers
Chapter 16. 5am
Joyce / Dr Paul Baird
Dawn Choris/David Rogers with heavy sound treatment by David Buckland
Chapter 17. 6am
Joyce / Buckland Buckland
Helen Moore re-reading Dorset Waterbodies - a Common Weal with River mix by Adrian Newton
Chapter 18. 7am
Joyce/Veronica Strang
Prof. Veronica Strang reading from: WaterBeings: From Nature Worship to the Current Environmental Crises
River/Pond recordings by Adrian Newton with sound treatment by David Buckland
Chapter 19. 8am
Joyce/Sarah Washington – treatment by Buckland
Big River – Greatful Dead
Raw Sewage – Dr Paul Baird
Yes, the River Knows – The Doors
Reggae on the River – Isreal Vibration
Sounds of the Pond – Newton/Buckland
Many Rivers to Cross
Chapter 20. 9am
Joyce/ Paul Baird
Waltz time
Paul Biard – species
Waltz Time
Paul Baird reading from the Royal Society report revealing Pollution is the Biggest Threat to Wildlife on our Waterways
Waltz Time
[Paul reading the rspb report is mixed with the folly of the Waltz – a rough quality PUNK rendition of ‘the State we are In’ and human folly]
Chapter 21. 10am
Joyce / Sarah Washington
Take me to the River – Talking Heads
Down by the River – Neil Young
River – Joni Mitchell
Yes, the River Knows – The Doors
River Euphrates – Pixies
Ferry Cross The Mersey – Gerry and the Pacemakers
Take me to the River – Al Green
River of Dreams – Billy Joel
The River – Bruce Springsteen
Down to the River – Alison Kraus
Many Rivers to Cross – Jimmy Cliff
Kawa No Nagare No You Ni – Hibari Misora
Five Feet High and Rising – Johnny Cash
Chapter 22. 11am
Joyce Buckland/Bissett
Buckland thanks the Artists who helped craft RiverRun
The Blue Danube Waltz – Strauss
Wind in the Willows Chapter 7 - The Piper at the Gate read in English by Mandi Bissett
The Piper at the Gate – Pink Floyd
Pissing in the River – Patti Smith
Down by the Water – PJ Harvey
The Rights of Rivers : Ecocide / Prof. Veronica Strang
Five Feet High and Rising – Johnny Cash
THE END
David Buckland. June 15. 2022
David Buckland is an artist, film-maker, writer and curator. His work is included in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, the Michael Wilson Collection, London and the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
Buckland created and now directs the international Cape Farewell project. Bringing artists, visionaries, scientists and educators together, Cape Farewell continues to build an international collective awareness and the cultural response to climate disruption. Over 140 artists have created operas, films, artworks, pop music and novels which address the climate challenge and through the process of making art, vision a sustainable and exciting cultural future.
Buckland curates three new major exhibitions: the 'CARBON 12' exhibition recently opened in Paris in May 2012. 'CARBON 13' opens in Marfa Texas in September 2012 and 'CARBON 14' is scheduled for the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, September 2013. All contain new artworks by international artists and cultural practioners, each addressing climate disruption and the mechanics of a desired cultural shift.
Recent publications include ‘Climate is Culture’ for Nature, March 2012 and the catalogue Carbon 12, published by Somogy Editions d’Art.