Fretful Porpentine

Episode 2: Michael Clune's novel, PAN -- and Bach, Boston, etc.

Valerie Stivers & Jeffrey Gross Season 1 Episode 2

Hello! Welcome to the second episode of Fretful Porpentine, hosted by book critic Valerie Stivers and classical music commentator Jeffrey Gross. This podcast explores musical references in classic literature. But in this episode we discuss something new and fascinating: Michael Clune’s novel, PAN, published on July 22nd, and the music in it: Bach Orchestral Suites, also Boston and — yes — the Neville Brothers.

Clune’s novel can be purchased here:

Your independent bookstore or

https://a.co/d/aiM15N3


Recordings used in the episode can be found here:

Intro music:

https://musopen.org/music/3774-orchestral-suite-no-2-in-b-minor-bwv-1067/

Click the note symbol next to Badinerie


Bach Orchestral Suite no. 1, Gavottes, with the “War Trumpet” (“Kriegstrompete”)

https://musopen.org/music/3773-orchestral-suite-no-1-in-c-major-bwv-1066/

Click the note symbol next to Gavottes 


The famous “Air” from Orchestral Suite no. 2:

https://musopen.org/music/3775-orchestral-suite-no-3-in-d-major-bwv-1068/#google_vignette

Click the note symbol next to Air


More Than a Feeling

https://youtu.be/t4QK8RxCAwo?si=88cnHsPLH6gSFPu3


Everybody Plays the Fool

https://youtu.be/VdCFXkQYgQo?si=AowzbzFX2BGirtA4


This episode was written and hosted by Valerie Stivers (@Valerie_reads on X.com and @ivalleria on Instagram.com) and Jeffrey Gross (@Klassical_Kat on X.com)


The episode was produced and engineered by Amanda Adams (@amandaadamsmusic on Instagram.com).


Thanks also to Monique Pryce (@second_bassoon on X) for assisting with setup and launch.


From Hamlet

"And each particular hair to stand on end, / Like quills upon the fretful porpentine"