 
                
                        Rest and Respite
Poems of pause and peace, read by David Ajao and Florence Roberts. Music by Jacques Ibert, Meredith Monk, Henry Purcell and William Walton.
This is a moment of pause and peace. Even with the cosmic stop-button pushed by the pandemic and global lockdown, it can still seem that the world is obsessed with speed: hyperactive work patterns, immediate information transfer, group video conferencing, a psychological drive towards ever-increasing productivity, more and more of everything all at once.
Slowing things down for a short while, David Ajao and Florence Roberts read sedentary and still poetry, where resting is a human right, a spiritual act, a conversation with nature, a rebellion and resistance, a naughty break from normality. Meanwhile, musical evocations of rest and repose come from Jacques Ibert, Meredith Monk, Henry Purcell, and William Walton.
If you need permission to let your body and mind recover and rejuvenate, rest here a while ...
Readings: 
Phyllis Webb - Sitting
John Brehm - Layabout
A.E. Housman - Yonder see the morning
Mardsen Hartley - The Very Languor
Goldwin Smith - The True Business Of Live (Epigrams, V, 20)
Emily Dickinson - I tie my Hat—I crease my Shawl (443)
Rhina P. Espaillat - “Find Work”
Paul Laurence Dunbar - A Lazy Day
Percy Bysshe Shelley - The Triumph Of Life (extract)
Shuntaro Tanikawa - I Sit (trans. Takako U. Lento) from “The Art Of Being Alone: Poems 1952-2009” © Takako U. Lento, a Cornell East Asia Series book published by Cornell University Press. Used by permission of the publisher.
Thierry Paquot - The Art Of The Siesta (extract - trans. Ken Hollings)
Douglas Dunn - Modern Love
Anne Boyer - Extract from “No” © Anne Boyer, from A Handbook of Disappointed Fate, published by Ugly Duckling Presse, Brooklyn, in 2018. 
Audre Lorde - A Burst Of Light: Living With Cancer (extract)
Miyo Vestrini - Schedule (trans, Anne Boyer and Cassandra Gillig)
Kwame Dawes - Before Winter
Wendell Berry - The Peace Of Wild Things © 2012 by Wendell Berry, from The New Collected Poems. Broadcast by permission of Counterpoint Press. 
Kei Miller - The Longest Song
Dora Maar - I rested in the arms of my arms
John Berger - Once In A Poem (extract)
Yehuda Amichai - I, Who Am Still Living, May I Rest In Peace (trans. Chana Bloch and Chana Kronfield)
Produced by Jack Howson. 
A Reduced Listening production for ѿý Radio 3.
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Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
- 
    Sitting![]() 00:01 00:01Henry PurcellO Solitude Performer: Olivia Chaney.- Shelter.
- Nonesuch.
 John BrehmLayabout read by David Ajao ![]() 00:06 00:06Leroy AndersonThe Syncopated Clock Performer: Isao Tomita.- Tomita's Greatest Hits.
- RCA.
 A.E. HousmanYonder see the morning blink read by David Ajao ![]() 00:07 00:07Virgil ThomsonSix Selected Portraits for Piano  Invention- Theodate Johnson Busy and Resting Performer: Logan Skelton.- Virgil Thompson.
- Centaur Records.
 Mardsen HartleyThe Very Languor read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:10 00:10François CouperinSecond livre de pièces de clavecin, Ordre 6:- II Les langueurs-tendres Performer: Olivier Baumont.- Couperin- Complete Works for Harpsichord.
- Warner Classics.
 Goldwin SmithThe True Business Of Life (Epigrams, V, 20) read by David Ajao ![]() 00:13 00:13Brian EnoGolden Hours - Another Green World.
- Island.
 Emily DickinsonI tie my Hat-I crease my Shawl (443) read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:16 00:16Benjamin BrittenNocturnal After John Dowland, Op. 70 - III: Restless (Inquieto) Performer: Julian Bream.- 20th Century Guitar.
- RCA Victor.
 Rhina P. Espaillat"Find Work" read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:18 00:18Bob DylanMaggie’s Farm - Bringing It All Back ѿý.
- CBS.
 Paul Laurence DunbarA Lazy Day read by David Ajao ![]() 00:21 00:21Josephine FosterHow Happy Is The Little Stone - Graphic As A Star.
- Fire Records.
 ![]() 00:22 00:22Jacques IbertSix Pièces: V. Reflets dans l'eau Performer: Lavinia Meijer.- Divertissements.
- Channel Classic Records.
 Percy Bysshe ShelleyThe Triumph Of Life (Extract) read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:29 00:29John Luther AdamsSongbirdsongs:- VIII. Joyful Noise Ensemble: Callithumpian Consort. Conductor: Stephen Drury.- Songbirdsongs.
- Mode.
 Shuntaro Tanikawa translated by Takako U. LentoI Sit read by Florence Roberts Thierry Paquot translated by Ken HollingsThe Art Of The Siesta (Extract) read by David Ajao ![]() 00:34 00:34Jorai H'grongDo among sang blan ning nong (The Month We Stay at ѿý) ![]() 00:35 00:35William WaltonSiesta Orchestra: Royal Northern Sinfonia. Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones.- The Quest (Complete Ballet) / The Wise Virgins (Suite From The Ballet).
- Naxos.
 Douglas DunnModern Love read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:41 00:41Tom Anderson & Aly BainDa Auld Restin' Chair Anne BoyerNo (Extract) read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:44 00:44Gyorgy LigetiPoème symphonique for 100 metronomes Performer: Aurora Orchestra.- Insomnia.
- Aurora.
 ![]() 00:44 00:44SolangeWeary - A Seat At The Table.
- Sony.
 ![]() 00:46 00:46Meredith MonkThe Politics of Quiet: Waltz in 5s Performer: Katie Geissinger. Ensemble: Bang on a Can All-Stars.- Memory Game.
- Cantaloupe.
 Audre LordeA Burst Of Light: Living With Cancer (Extract) read by David Ajao Miyo VestriniSchedule read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:51 00:51María Huld Markan SigfúsdóttirClockworking Performer: Nordic Affect.- Clockworking.
- Solo Luminus.
 Kwame DawesBefore Winter read by David Ajao ![]() 00:55 00:55Franz SchubertMeeres Stille, D. 216 (Op.3/2) Lyricist: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Singer: Dietrich Fischer‐Dieskau. Performer: Gerald Moore.- Lieder.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
 Wendell BerryThe Peace Of Wild Things read by Florence Roberts ![]() 00:58 00:58Jhené AikoTrigger Protection Mantra - Trigger Protection Mantra.
- Def Jam Recordings.
 ![]() 00:59 00:59John CageASLSP (1985) For Piano Or Organ Performer: Gary Verkade.- The Works For Organ.
- Mode.
 Kei MillerThe Longest Song read by David Ajao Dora MaarI rested in the arms of my arms read by Florence Roberts ![]() 01:02 01:02Jules MassenetThaïs, Meditation Performer: Michael Rabin. Orchestra: The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Felix Slatkin.- The Magic Bow.
- Capital.
 John BergerOnce In A Poem (Extract) read by Florence Roberts Yehuda Amichai translated by Chana Bloch and Chana KronfieldI, Who Am Still Living, May I Rest in Peace read by David Ajao ![]() 01:10 01:10Ry CooderI'll Be Rested When The Roll Is Called - The Prodigal Son.
- Fantasy.
 Broadcasts- Sun 5 Jul 2020 17:30ѿý Radio 3
- Wed 28 Dec 2022 18:15ѿý Radio 3
 
 
            