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Program 07-11-11-B |
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In biology it's widely accepted, but the study of the evolution of language was once banned by The French Linguistic institute. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll let it develop, and take a look at the story of French as well. Also, composer Stephen Paulus finds music in and around poetry. And, a surprise visit from Charles Dickens.
SEGMENT 1:
Christine Kenneally is a linguist and the author of "The First Word: The Search for the Origins of Language." She tells Steve Paulson that Noam Chomsky thought language was hard-wired in the human brain, but later researchers like Steven Pinker have shown that its development is even more complex.
SEGMENT 2:
Composer Stephen Paulus sits at the piano keyboard and talks with Jim Fleming about how he developed the music for a group of six poems he set for the Festival Choir of Madison. The resulting piece is called "Prairie Songs" and we also hear excerpts of a concert recording by the Choir. They talk about the way music and language can work together to enhance an emotional effect and how the composer changes the poem when he sets it to music. Also, Julie Barlow is the author, with her partner, Jean-Benoit Nadeau, of "The Story of French." Barlow tells Anne Strainchamps that French retains an association with culture and sophistication and that the French have a curatorial attitude toward their language, but in fact they add new words all the time.
Stephen Paulus - photo Mike Haberman
SEGMENT 3:
Jim Ridge is a core member of the company of American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin. He performs a one man show called "Dickens in America," which he wrote with his friend Jim DeVita. Ridge explains the structure of the show to Jim Fleming and goes in and out of various characters to give us the flavor of it. And it's great, rollicking fun!
CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-11-11-B.
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Books:
| Jean Benoit Nadeau & Julie Barlow, The Story of French (St. Martin's Press) |  |
| Christine Kenneally, The First Word: The Search for the Origins of Language (Viking) |  |
| The Festival Choir of Madison: Prairie Songs (www.festivalchoir.org) |  |
Websites:
- Festival Choir of Madison
http://www.festivalchoir.org/ - Stephen Paulus
http://www.stephenpaulus.com/ - Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow
http://www.nadeaubarlow.com/ - Christine Kenneally
http://www.christinekenneally.com/ - American Players Theater
https://www.playinthewoods.org/
Music:
- After Christine Kenneally:
Joseph Horovitz: Music Hall Suite-first mvt; Rennquintett
(Bayer BR 100 251) - In Stephen Paulus
"Grass" & "The Old Church"
from "Prairie Songs" with the Festival Choir of Madison
(www.festivalchoir.org) - After Julie Barlow:
Amélie-Les-Crayons: "Ta P'tite Flamme"
Putamayo Presents Paris
(Putamayo PUT-249-2) - AfterJim Ridge:
Joseph Horovitz: Music Hall Suite-last mvt; Rennquintett
(Bayer BR 100 251)
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Distribution dates: week of 11/11/2007 - hour 2 |
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