Xelís de Toro is a Galician writer, performer and musician based in Brighton. In this transmission he presents his fourth talk on Sound Poetry as part of his ongoing ‘Poets without Words’ project. In this episode, Xelís looks at the world of Berlin Dada from 1918 including the sound poetry innovations of Raoul Hausmann and Kurt Schwitters.
The talk is accompanied by a mix of archive recordings including voices and sounds emerging from Berlin Dada. In this mix you can hear original poetry performances from Hausmann and Schwitters through to more recent interpretations of their work.
The mix also includes interviews with Marcel Duchamp, Richard Huelsenbeck, Tristan Tzara and Man Ray.
Poets Without Words is supported using public finding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Tracklisting
Xelís de Toro presents a talk on Berlin Dada, Raoul Hausmann and Kurt Schwitters.
Karawane by Hugo Ball, performed by Trio Exvoco from ‘Dada For Now (A Collection Of Futurist And Dada Sound Works), 1985
Kp’Eporium by Raoul Hausmann, 1946
An Anna Blume by Kurt Schwitters, 1932
Die Sonate In Urlauten by Kurt Schwitters, 1932
The ARCHIVE MIX includes:
Drei Metronomfassung by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Die Schwindlinge from ‘What A Beauty: Die Ursonate Und Andere Lautgedichte’ CD, 2004
Interview with Marcel Duchamp (1959)
Interview with Max Ernst (1960s)
Simultangedicht Kaa Gee Dee / WW / Boo / by Kurt Schwitters performed by Trio Exvoco from ‘Dada For Now (A Collection Of Futurist And Dada Sound Works), 1985
Phonemes by Raoul Hausmann, 1957
b b b b et F m s b w (1918) by Raoul Hausmann, 1957, excerpt from Documentary film, ‘Alphabet of German Dada’
Fantastic Prayers by Richard Huelsenbeck from documentary film, ‘Dadascope’
Interview with Richard Huelsenbeck (1959)
What A B What A B What A Beauty by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Die Schwindlinge from ‘What A Beauty: Die Ursonate Und Andere Lautgedichte’ CD, 2004
The Real Disuda Of The Nightmare / Obervogelsang / Niesscherzo by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Trio Exvoco from ‘Dada For Now (A Collection Of Futurist And Dada Sound Works), 1985
Soundreel by Raoul Hausmann, 1959
Nießscherzo by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Sprechbohrer from ‘Ursonate Und Andere Konsequente Dichtung’ CD, 2014
To Eve Blossom by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Ernst Schwitters from ‘An Anna Blume / Die Sonate In Urlauten’ LP, 1958
The Real Disuda Of The Nightmare by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Sprechbohrer from ‘Ursonate Und Andere Konsequente Dichtung’ CD, 2014
L’Amiral Cherche Une Maison À Louer by Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, Richard Huelsenbeck performed by Trio Exvoco from ‘Dada For Now (A Collection Of Futurist And Dada Sound Works) LP, 1985
Cigarren by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Trio Exvoco from ‘Dada For Now (A Collection Of Futurist And Dada Sound Works), 1985
Bii Bill (3 Versionen) by Kurt Schwitters, performed by Die Schwindlinge from ‘What A Beauty: Die Ursonate Und Andere Lautgedichte’ CD, 2004
Interview with Man Ray from ‘Surrealism Reviewed’, CD, (date unknown)
Dada Into Surrealism by Tristan Tzara, Music by Marcel Duchamp from ‘Surrealism Reviewed’ CD, (1959)
Minotaur by Hans Arp from Documentary film, ‘Dadascope’ 1964
Naa by Kurt Schwitters performed by Trio Exvoco from ‘Dada For Now (A Collection Of Futurist And Dada Sound Works) LP, 1985
The voices and poetry are accompanied by a mix of musical recordings from cassettes by Soundless Mind Eraser including excerpts from: ‘Berlin’, ‘Compressed Stylus’, ‘Derric Funes’, ‘Dunes’, ‘Harmonium’, ‘Hummuh’, ‘Loopinalowdrone’, ‘Lost Hours’, ‘Omno’, ‘Suture’, ‘XmasDayXstatic15’ and ‘Polka Ittegil’.
This is followed by a mix of tracks related to the techniques of Berlin Dada:
Jump Did-le-ba by Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra, 10″ 78 RPM, 1949
I’ve found a new baby by the Mills Brothers, 10″ 78 RPM, 1935
Drifter Teil by Spiritus Noister from ‘Ursonate For 2 Voices And Musical Environment’ LP, 2003
Oscillations by DJ Spooky feat Kurt Schwitters from ‘Rhythm Science: Excerpts And Allegories From The Sub Rosa Archives’ CD, 2004
Sample & Hold (Wer bitter im Munde hat, kann nicht süßpricken) by Xao Seffcheque from ‘Eins Und Zwei Und Drei Und Vier (Deutsche Experimentelle Pop-Musik 1980-86)‘ LP, 1981
Reading Light (for Raoul Hausmann) by Jaap Blonk from ‘Songs Of Little Sleep’ Cassette, 2014
First broadcast on 7th August 2022 on Radio Reverb 97.2FM & DAB, Brighton, UK, streaming online at www.radioreverb.com
To find out more about the work of Xelís de Toro visit: xelisdetoro.net