Hello! I am researching about music and pictures made to the works of Poe focusing "The Raven" "House of Usher" "Tell Tale Heart" and Berenice". I already know about the music from "Alan parsons Project". Does anybody know more?! Thanks

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Answers

Heide,

Beyond your mention of the Alan Parsons Project, I would know none of Poe's works that were set to music. However, there is some minor discussion of this on the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore website at http://www.eap.org.

As for paintings and illustrations, there is a book of the title "The Extraordinary Mr Poe" by Wolf Mankowitz that has and names many of Poe's illustrators. This is fortunate because as Poe biographical reference material, the book is valueless. It was published by Summit Books (1978), a Simon & Schuster division of Gulf & Western Corporation. You may find it in the local library.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2001

Heide, Nothing about the specific works you asked about - but The Cask of Amontillado was made into an opera which had its world premiere at Des Moines Metro Opera in Iowa in the summer of 1997. I hope that helps.

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2001

If you can play MP3's on your computer...or download an mp3 player at MP3.com. The best Edgar Allen Poe I have heard is by a band that goes by the name of "the Fires of Hell" You should listen to the "Raven" that this band did, it is very good!

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2001

Well it's not in your list, but you might want to listen to the Propaganda album "A Secret Wish" (ZTT, 1984). The first track is "A Dream Within A Dream" and is stunning.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2001

I have an LP (anyone remember what those are?) called Poe for Moderns, in which several of Poe's poems, including Annabel Lee and The Raven, were spoken over a musical background by the Buddy Morrow Orchestra.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2001

he inspired rachmaninoff...sorry if its spelled wrong

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2003

He inspired Debussy, who said he had been living in the House of Usher, because his nerves were frayed. Never heard of the Alan parsons Project, though... *scratches her proboscis*

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2003

Claude Debussy, french "impressionist" turn-of-the-century composer was not only inspired by Poe, he had actually intended on writing an opera based off of "Fall of the House of Usher". Too bad Debussy died prematurely--this could have been a masterpiece. Debussy's famous opera "Pelleus and Melisande"(Maeterlinck sp?) utilizes many dark, impressionistic "colors in sound" which would have been an interesting marriage to poe's style(had he done "Usher") In any case, perhaps some works by Poe will find a fresh, new voice in music, by a present-day American composer...Hmm..

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2003

Alan Parsons Project. Yes. [launcehs into psychedelic gothic rock opera in head set to "The Raven"]

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2003