Hello! Welcome to the second episode of Fretful Porpentine, hosted by book critic Valerie Stivers and classical music commentator Jeffrey Gross. This podcast explores musical references in classic literature. But in this episode we discuss something new and fascinating: Michael Clune’s novel, PAN, published on July 22nd, and the music in it: Bach Orchestral Suites, also Boston and — yes — the Neville Brothers.

Clune’s novel can be purchased here:

Your independent bookstore or

https://a.co/d/aiM15N3

Recordings used in the episode can be found here:

Intro music:

https://musopen.org/music/3774-orchestral-suite-no-2-in-b-minor-bwv-1067/

Click the note symbol next to Badinerie

Bach Orchestral Suite no. 1, Gavottes, with the “War Trumpet” (“Kriegstrompete”)

https://musopen.org/music/3773-orchestral-suite-no-1-in-c-major-bwv-1066/

Click the note symbol next to Gavottes 

The famous “Air” from Orchestral Suite no. 2:

https://musopen.org/music/3775-orchestral-suite-no-3-in-d-major-bwv-1068/#google_vignette

Click the note symbol next to Air

More Than a Feeling

https://youtu.be/t4QK8RxCAwo?si=88cnHsPLH6gSFPu3

Everybody Plays the Fool

https://youtu.be/VdCFXkQYgQo?si=AowzbzFX2BGirtA4

This episode was written and hosted by Valerie Stivers (@Valerie_reads on X.com and @ivalleria on Instagram.com) and Jeffrey Gross (@Klassical_Kat on X.com)

The episode was produced and engineered by Amanda Adams (@amandaadamsmusic on Instagram.com).

Thanks also to Monique Pryce (@second_bassoon on X) for assisting with setup and launch.

From Hamlet: 

”And each particular hair to stand on end, / Like quills upon the fretful porpentine”