KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Morning Concert: Prospero's Pens, 1 of 4

Analog Audio

Event Type

Other Finds

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

MC.1992.02.14.A

Program Series

Morning Concert

Program Length

116 min

Part

1 of 4

Dates

1992-02-14 | broadcast
| 402 | created

Description

Fountain pens were the early 20th Century equivalent of the laptop computer. Allowing individuals the ability to write without being tied to a desk and inkwell, this unique American invention came to symbolize literacy for the man or woman who owned and carried one. Recently, as computer technology has threatened to wipe out the individual personality of the handwritten word, hoards of collectors have rediscovered the joy of writing with new and vintage instruments which can vary the width of the letter with subtle hand pressure. The many exotic and attractive designs in which fountain pens have been made, and their unique characteristics, are explored by Charles Amirkhanian and his guests in this program. The music used in this program comes from Michael Nyman’s soundtrack for Peter Greenaway’s film “Prospero's Books”, in which the sound and sights of quill pen writing figured prominently. Among guests featured are Saul Kitchener, the expert pen restorer of Michael's Art supplies in San Francisco; Nancy Olson, managing editor of Pen World Magazine; Larry Klein, who taught himself to write in 17th Century calligraphy with a quill pen; and Menashe Murad, owner of Manhattan's famous specialty store, Menash, which supplies rare and unusual fountain pens to ordinary citizens and celebrities alike. (from KPFA Folio)

Musical Selections

[excerpt from “Prospero's Books”] / Michael Nyman

Subjects

Fountain pens
Penmanship
Calligraphy

Related places

Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Amirkhanian, Charles
Nyman, Michael
Greenaway, Peter
Krinke, Fred
Kitchener, Saul
Schneider, Stuart L.
Klein, Larry