Written in 1902, Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem ‘The Panther’ describes a captured panther on exhibit at the Ménagerie of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. Rilke has been described as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets, so it may come as no surprise that Laura Veirs chose to share this, one of her favourite poems, in song. The digital release comes in two versions, one electric guitar and the other ukulele. As you can imagine, they provide two very different settings and they also offer an insight into Veirs’ creative process and the lengths she goes to to find suitable musical homes for verse.
Originally recorded in 2016 she has chosen to release them now and has highlighted how the words resonate with these Covid times.
“I am sharing these songs now because I like them and think listeners might find them interesting, especially because they are such radically different musical treatments of essentially the same lyrics. I also want to share them now because this song adapts words from one of my favourite poems. Since many of us around the world are still in quarantine, I think listeners will be able to relate to the plight of Rilke’s panther. There are times in life when we find ourselves trapped, either by external circumstances or by self-limitation, or both. Hopefully in those times we can realize that our state of confinement will change and pass, like all things, eventually.”
Laura Veirs — The Panther
Laura Veirs – The Panther – Ukulele Version
UK Tour Dates
3rd October – Brighton – Komedia
4th October – Guildford – The Boileroom
5th October – Portsmouth – Wedgewood Rooms
6th October – Bristol – Thekla
7th October – Exeter – Exeter Phoenix
9th October – Cambridge – Storey’s Field Centre
10th October – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
11th October – Newcastle – Civic Theatre
12th October – Glasgow – Stereo
13th October – Edinburgh – Summerhall Arts Venue
14th October – Manchester – The Deaf Institute
16th October – Nottingham – The Bodega Social Club
17th October – Leeds – Belgrave Music Hall
18th October – Norwich – Norwich Arts Centre
19th October – London – Union Chapel