Downloads & Free Reading Options - Results

1Humorous Readings and Recitations

By Leopold Wagner

Before radio, television, and electronic mass media, lectures, recitations, public readings, and other public performances were important ways of sharing new works with the public or attracting public attention to issues and authors of the time. Public performance was, in a sense, the internet of its day, as people sought to learn of the world around them, as well as entertain themselves. This anthology of short humorous pieces was intended as a ready reference of material of all sorts to those who participated in public performance, whether professionally, or as part of a school or community program. The pieces themselves were intended to be read aloud, shared with, and appreciated by, an audience. This intent is not dissimilar to the mission of Librivox in the twenty-first century. They were written by popular authors of the period, some of whose names are still well known in the twenty first-century, such as J. M. Barrie (Peter Pan), Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland), W.S. Gilbert (HMS Pinafore) and W.M. Thackeray (Vanity Fair), as well as others whose popularity has waned. (DrPGould)

2Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages

By Wilhelm Wägner

This volume contains the principal hero-lays of the six great epic cycles of the Teutonic Middle Ages: The Langobardian Legends, the Amelung and Kindred Legends; Dietrich of Bern's Adventures; the Nibelung Legends; the Hegeling Legends; and Beowulf. To them, the author has added the great mythical Carolingian cycle, which centred round the persons of Charlemagne and his heroes, and the Breton ones of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, as well as the legend of the Holy Grail. Therefore, this one book tells all of the great epic and romances of the Middle Ages in accessible language for the general public. (Summary by Leni)

The legend of Tannhäuser, the Minstrel Knight who, having betrayed his love for the virtuous Elizabeth by dallying in the Venusberg, reveals his sins during a song contest and is forced to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome to seek absolution from the Pope. <br><br> The text of Richard Wagner's opera is here freely translated as a dramatic poem. - Summary by Alan Mapstone

The Libretto of Richard Wagner's music drama Tristan and Isolde, translated into English by John P Jackson, is here presented as a spoken drama. <br><br> Tristan, a Knight in the service of King Mark of Cornwall, is sent to Ireland to fetch Mark's prospective bride, the Irish Princess Isolde. On the return voyage Tristan and Isolde realise their love for each other and arrange a secret tryst. This is exposed leading to violence, tragedy and separation but eventually uniting them in death. - Summary by Alan Mapstone<br><br> <u>Cast:</u><br> Tristan: a Cornish Knight: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/8011">Greg Giordano</a><br> Isolde: a Princess of Ireland: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/13140">Jenn Broda</a><br> King Mark of Cornwall: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/4705">Algy Pug</a><br> Kurvenal: Tristan's servitor: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17576">Beeswaxcandle</a><br> Brangaene: Isolde's attendant: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18543">Agnes Robert Behr</a><br> Melot: a Counsellor: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/12980">Wayne Cook</a><br> A Young Sailor: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/6754">ToddHW</a><br> A Shepherd: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/6754">ToddHW</a><br> A Helmsman: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/8425">Larry Wilson</a><br> Narration: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170">Alan Mapstone</a><br> Audio Editor: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170">Alan Mapstone</a><br>

An English language dramatic reading of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Niblung) referred to by the composer as a Bühnenfestspiel ("stage festival play"). Wagner was both composer and librettist for the epic dramas comprising "the Ring Cycle". His intent was that a prelude, Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), should be performed of an evening and that the trilogy of Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried and Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) should thence be performed on the three succeeding days. - Summary by Brian Fullen <br><b>Cast List:</b> Alberich: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18075"> PaulWelford</a><br> Brünnhilde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/4174"> Availle</a><br> Donner: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17713"> Brian Fullen</a><br> Erda: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18543"> Agnes Robert Behr</a><br> Fafner: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/6754"> ToddHW</a><br> Fasolt: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/12627"> Dave Lantz</a><br> Flosshilde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19161"> AliceStein</a><br> Freia: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/13257"> Elsie Selwyn</a><br> Fricka: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/16764"> dc</a><br> Froh: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19151"> Michael Faze</a><br> Gerhilde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170"> Alan Mapstone</a><br> Grimgerde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17713"> Brian Fullen</a><br> Gunther: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170"> Alan Mapstone</a><br> Gutrune: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18246"> Leanne Cvetan</a><br> Hagen: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/4705"> Algy Pug</a><br> Helmwige: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17752"> redrun</a><br> Hunding: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170"> Alan Mapstone</a><br> Loge: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170"> Alan Mapstone</a><br> Mime: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/13577"> Adrian Stephens </a><br> First Norn: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18543"> Agnes Robert Behr</a><br> Second Norn: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19180"> Dottedrhythm</a><br> Third Norn: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19161"> AliceStein</a><br> Ortlinde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19161"> AliceStein</a><br> Rossweisse: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18246"> Leanne Cvetan</a><br> Schwertleite: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/14297"> Scarbo</a><br> Siegfried: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17759"> James Escareno</a><br> Sieglinde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18543"> Agnes Robert Behr</a><br> Siegmund: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17713"> Brian Fullen</a><br> Siegrune: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19014"> Belinda McReynolds</a><br> Vassals: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/4705"> Algy Pug</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170"> Alan Mapstone</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17713"> Brian Fullen</a><br> Waltraute: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19180"> Dottedrhythm</a><br> Wellgunde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18246"> Leanne Cvetan</a><br> Woglinde: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19199"> Wildcard</a><br> Women: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18543"> Agnes Robert Behr</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19161"> AliceStein</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19180"> Dottedrhythm</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18246"> Leanne Cvetan</a><br> Wood Bird: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170"> Alan Mapstone</a><br> Wotan (The Wanderer): <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17576"> Beeswaxcandle</a><br> Stage Directions: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17713"> Brian Fullen</a><br> Editing: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17713"> Brian Fullen</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18075"> PaulWelford</a>, <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19161"> AliceStein</a>

6Flying Dutchman

By Richard Wagner

The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer) is a German Romantic Opera by Richard Wagner first performed in Dresden in 1843. A brig captained by Daland seeks refuge from a storm in a fjord on the Norwegian coast. There they meet the phantom ship of the Flying Dutchman. - Summary by Alan Mapstone <u>Cast of characters:</u> The Flying Dutchman: <a href="https://librivox.org/sections/readers/8011">Greg Giordano</a> Daland, a Norwegian Navigator: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/8425">Larry Wilson</a> Senta, his Daughter: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/18543">Agnes Robert Behr</a> Erik, a Huntsman: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19612">Jon Hunter</a> Mary, Senta's Nurse: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19584">ShrimpPhish</a> The Mate of Daland's Vessel: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17576">Beeswaxcandle</a> Sailor's of the Norwegian Vessel: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/17662">Inkell</a> Crew of The Flying Dutchman: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170">Alan Mapstone</a> Girls: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/19161">Alice Stein</a> Narration/Audio Editor: <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/7170">Alan Mapstone</a>