We begin with a slow, grand, almost pompous statement:

My Lords and My Ladies,

Of the Royal Court,

the religious fantasy of Jonah

and the Whale.

From here the story shoots into a flurry of words, syllables, sounds, silence, and beat beat beat beat – a musical concoction that is derived from only the speaker’s voice.  This is Lord Buckley’s storytelling.

A performance artist from the 40’s – early 60’s, one can easily recognize Buckley’s influence on the alternative movements emerging at the time (beatniks, hippies, ect…).  It seems he was finding barriers established by cultural norms and shattering them; he took known pieces (Biblical stories, famous speeches…) and turned themed around using alt-cultural idioms of the day.  This made the stories new, fresh, accessible by a new group of people and reminding the public of the oft forgotten themes imbedded in the tales.

From a technical standpoint, Buckley seems to approach each tale as a piece of music – finding the rhythm in each word and using his fast speaking voice to carry the listener along on a wave of words; until the wave breaks, for the wave does break in a hard, sudden stop.  A crash of silence that leaves the listener hanging, seeking the next word, the next sound; knowing the next piece is important, for it is with it that we will land.  But as soon as we land, Buckley sweeps us up and carries us off on anther torrent of words and sounds.

I recognize, however, that it is not every story that is like this.  Buckley also delivers pieces with a slow, calm, grandiose tone that sounds formal and culturally proper, but he inserts slang to keep the audience not knowing what is actually happening: are we being formal or hip?

Buckley’s work is something different – art that came out of the beginnings of a cultural revolution and performed by a man who pushed the barrier of acceptability of the time, and is on the edge when viewed in a contemporary light.  The songs that fly out with his voice are interesting because of the style in which he presents.  The new view of classic works can capture the soul of listeners and inspire a journey through the paths shared by the story.

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