Readings

For the past few years, I’ve been learning about voice from Leigh Wilson Smiley, Director of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, at the University of Maryland. I thought if I was going to get into podcasting, I ought to know something about the craft of “voice.”

What’s happened since then is that, working with Leigh, I’ve developed a passion for reciting Shakespeare and poetry. It’s now become a fun hobby of mine. The Readings on this page are the current results of some of those efforts. I have learned that you can never get these exactly “right”, just how you’re feeling and interpreting the words at the time. I highly recommend that you give it a try.

You learn a lot from the process, and from the words of the great artists. Hope you enjoy them.

-Bill Walton

Nephelidia

Nephelidia

Here’s Macbeth in Act I, Scene 7 trying to decide whether or not to kill King Duncan.

Here’s Macbeth in Act I, Scene 7 trying to decide whether or not to kill King Duncan.

Sonnet 65 Reading by Bill Walton

Sonnet 65 Reading by Bill Walton

The Windhover Reading by Bill Walton

The Windhover Reading by Bill Walton

Peggy Noonan on the meaning of “Nothing is Written”.

Peggy Noonan on the meaning of “Nothing is Written”.

Mark Twain on the great passages in the Bible.

Mark Twain on the great passages in the Bible.

Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe – 1719) on thankfulness and God’s providence.

Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe – 1719) on thankfulness and God’s providence.

Michael Bamberger on life on the PGA tour in the old days.

Michael Bamberger on life on the PGA tour in the old days.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

“Cat” by J.R.R. Tolkien

“Cat” by J.R.R. Tolkien