Thoreau's Leaves: the Thoreau Podcast
By M. Allen Cunningham
To Set Down Such Choice Experiences
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Jan 20 - 28, 1852
Henry muses on the structural value of his journal, and reminds himself: “Associate reverently and as much as you can with your loftiest thoughts.”
MUSIC:
“Overhead” by Blue Dot Sessions, courtesy of Free Music Archive
“Domina Transit” by Blue Dot Sessions, courtesy of Free Music Archive
I Have Sometimes Imagined a Library
Henry envisions a fitting repository for the works of naturalists, philosophers, and poets, free from "cold-blooded and methodical officials."
MUSIC:
“Threads and Veils” by Blue Dot Sessions, courtesy of Free Music Archive
The Fact Is I Am A Mystic
February 27 - March 15, 1853
Henry notes the first evidence of spring, and reminds himself: "Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows."
MUSIC: "Alsace" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
"Red-Wing Meditation" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
"Tortoise Shell" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
"Pink Gradient" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
"All the Quiet Work" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
SOUND CREDITS:
Red-Shouldered Hawk: Christopher McPherson, XC602509. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/602509
Eastern Bluebird: Christopher McPherson, XC601010. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/601010
Owls, Ice, Foxes & Flocks
"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder ... and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet which I could have worn."
(from the chapter "Winter Animals" in Walden)
MUSIC:
"Backwards Flow (Instrumental)" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
"Blackbird Reverie (Instrumental)" by Chad Crouch, https://www.soundofpicture.com/, used by courtesy of a licensing agreement with the artist.
SOUND CREDITS:
Barred Owl: Lance A. M. Benner, XC486052. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/486052.
Canada Goose: Meena Haribal, XC543318. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/543318
Great Horned Owl: Lance A. M. Benner, XC595324. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/595324
Squirrel on roof: courtesy of Darius Kedros. Accessible at https://freesound.org/s/276857/
Squirrel chatter, courtesy of bmccoy2. Accessible at https://freesound.org/s/342105/
Blue Jay: Denis Provencher, XC754448. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/754448.
Black-capped Chickadee: Ian Davies, XC51770. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/51770.
Black-capped Chackadee: Paul Marvin, XC299725. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/299725.
Questions & Depths
Even in the deep of winter, "heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." (From Walden, "The Pond in Winter")
Music: "Pilgrims" by Some Were at Sea; "Reflections" by Pete James Johnson
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist.)
Some Lichenous Thoughts Still Adhere to Us
December 29th and 31st, 1853
Henry walks out amid the worst snowstorm in recent Concord memory, and on New Year's Eve recalls his past drunkenness.
Snow Bunting sounds by Terje Kolaas: accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/425902
Music: "Per Paura Che Si Rompa" by Bottega Baltazar; "The Racer" by Tristan Barton
(All songs used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist.)
Loon Checkers
Loon sounds by Andrew Spencer, XC 189383 (accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/189383); and Todd Wilson, XC103421 (accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/103421).
Music: "Love You" by Yehezkel Raz; "Revelations" by Tristan Barton
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
Before a Single Green Blade
March 29, 1853
Henry does a little digging and discovers "a wonderful piece of chemistry."
Music: "White Dream" and "Icicles" by Yehezkel Raz
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
In Honor of Thoreau's 203rd Birthday: The Artist of Kouroo
For July 12th, 2020, a reading of Thoreau's original fable about the reaches and depths of time and art, and about the spirit behind the building of a new world. Here's to "a world with full and fair proportions."
Music: "Sails" by Rodello's Machine; "Walking in Forests" by Ben Winwood
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
The Harp Articulate
Your Mind Must Not Perspire
July 23, 1851
"Do not tread on the heels of your experience. Be impressed without making a minute of it."
Tree Swallow sounds by Martin St-Michel, XC179722. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/179722.
Music: "Ever I Wander" by Jameson Nathan Jones; "Tranquil" by Danny Pinder
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist.)
The Shadow & the Substance
September 7, 1851
"Go in search of the springs of life and you will get exercise enough."
American Robin sounds courtesy of Ted Floyd, XC364119. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/364119.
Eastern Whip-poor-will sounds courtesy of Daniel Parker, XC325436. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/325436.
Music: "Fixed" by Swirling Ship; "Lights" by Yehzkel Raz; "A Place Beyond" by SLPSTRM
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
The Burnished Earth
Aug 2 -7, 1854
Henry saunters and rows on the offside of summer, amid burnished surfaces.
Footsteps courtesy of soundmary at https://freesound.org/s/194979/
Music: "Cutting Teeth" by Ben Noble; "Drifting" by Lake Union
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist.)
Even the Flowers Will Come to You
May 10, 1853
Henry hails the arriving summer amid golden gates and terrene temples.
American Yellow Warbler sounds by Jim Berry, XC477354. (Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/477354)
Music: "Those Nights We Lost" by Emanuele Errante; "Can't Explain" by Ziv Moran
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
At the Right Angle
"I have seen an attribute of another world and condition of things."
Music: "Papyrus" by Kyle Preston; "Empyrean" by Michael FK
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
A Vegetative Force
June 18, 1853
Henry steps out to show his fungus.
Music: "Scherzetto" by Ziv Moran; "Puddles" by Stanley Gurvich
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
We Began to Feel Mesmeric Influences
April 16, 1852
Henry and a woodchuck get acquainted.
Music: "Daughter" by Ben Noble; "Light Through the Branches" by Ben Winwood
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
Nearer to the Origin of Things
June 11, 1851
Henry goes nocturnal, "to see objects by moonlight as well as sunlight to get a complete notion of them."
Eastern Whip-poor-will sounds by Daniel Parker, XC325436 (Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/325436) and by Dylan Pedro, XC239651 (Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/239651).
Common Nighthawk sounds by Sunny, XC490771. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/490771.
Connecticut Warbler sounds by Nancy Hetrick, XC252951. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/252951.
Music: "La Stanza di Nelson 2" by Bottega Baltazar; "Hammer and Felt" by Beneath the Mountain
(All songs used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
What An Eventful Life
May 22, 1853
Henry saves a kitten -- or the kitten saves itself.
Music: "Eventually" by Giants & Pilgrims
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
Like a Pilgrim, Going Nowhither
July 21, 1851
Only some roads are ideal roads.
Music: "I'll Understand" by Roza (All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
My Heart Leaps Into My Mouth
August 17, 1851
One's path is strewn with flowers.
Music: "Nesting" by Evolv; "White Dream" by For Nils
Goldfinch sounds by Martin St-Michel, XC179304. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/179304.
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist.)
The Future is Worth Expecting
March 18 & 21, 1853
Set out and see if you can muse again.
Bluebird sounds by Richard E. Webster, XC502284. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/502284
Music: "Walking in Forests" by Ben Winwood
(All music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)
Thoreau's Leaves Intro
Spanning 25 years and 2 million words, Henry David Thoreau's journal was his life work. Join us as we journey through the days with one of America's greatest voices, in Thoreau's Leaves.
Music: "Nesting" by Evolv
(Music used courtesy of the artists through a licensing agreement with Artlist)