Last year Skylight Press was privileged to publish a collection of poetry by the esteemed poet, Margaret Randall, called Something’s Wrong with the Cornfields. Soon after, another poetry collection was published by University of New Mexico Press for their Mary Burrit Christiansen Poetry series – called Ruins. As well as a poet and activist Margaret is a professional photographer and the book was illustrated with her wonderful photos. In advance of the book release Margaret collaborated with musicians and fellow Skylight authors, Daniel Staniforth and Rebsie Fairholm (née Rebecca Wilby) to create an audio-visual version of the work.
Daniel and Rebsie, who also work together as the group Alchymical Muse and have collaborated on various film and theatre music pieces, released a ‘Sonic Poemscape’ CD of the same name that features original compositions and arrangements of traditional melodies. The CD can be downloaded or purchased here -and the book is available from Amazon and other places. The above promotional film includes three of the pieces set to Margaret’s Ruins photographs.
RUINS
“In this poetry collection, Margaret Randall uses the metaphor of ruins to meditate on time’s movement–through memory, through cities, through the leavings of history, and through the bodies of people who have experienced time’s transformations and traumas. Randall’s ruins include not only Chaco Canyon, Hovenweep, Teotihuacan, Machu Picchu, KietSiel, Petra, and sites in ancient Greece and Egypt, but also Auschwitz-Birkenau and lives shattered by torture and oppression.” (Taken from UNMP website).
Margaret Randall is a Poet, Essayist, Photographer, and Social Activist (see her website)
Daniel Staniforth and Rebsie Fairholm are poets, novelists, composers and musicians. Their joint projects include Alchymical Muse and Luna Trick, as well as works in their own names (see www.flowforth.com or www.rebsiefairholm.co.uk)
Daniel Staniforth: Vocals, Cello, Double Bass, Guitars, Ukulele, Synthesizers, Drums.
Rebsie Fairholm: Vocals, Celtic Harp, Guitar
Margaret Randall: Text, Photography
Through the Skylight 