Day Trips for Nihilists

Neil Fitzgerald
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

A meandering essayistic mix of music, film and literature, field recordings, and humour, all with one goal in mind: to provide a short audio day trip for nihilists wherein they slow down and enjoy the world. All music clips and recordings are (hopefully) either out of copyright or used under fair usage. To get in touch: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com or neil-fitzgerald.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 09/25/2025

    On an Increasingly Faint Memory of your School Days

    Running order: Clunt, AppernackGrange Hill theme tuneClip from the film Dead Poet's SocietyBagpuss opening theme and narration'When I Heard The Learn'd Astronomer', Walt Whitman, excerpt from Breaking Bad'The School Boy', William Blake'Friends, Romans, Countryman...' speech by Mark Anthony from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (Marlon Brando)'Dives and Lazarus', Vaughan Williams'I vow to thee, my country'Intros from Indie Britpop and a Leicestershire hiphop legend whom only God can judge - 'Going for Gold' by Shed Seven, 'Return of the Mack' by Mark Morrison, 'On and On' by The Longpigs, 'Town' by Northern Uproar'I like me, my wife likes me' - Del Griffith (John Candy), Planes, Trains and Automobiles'Power To Believe (instrumental)', Planes, Trains & Automobiles soundtrackVarious sounds and field recordings freesound.org All original music by Neil Fitzgerald. All samples used under Fair Usage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  2. 07/18/2025

    On Melancholy

    Running order of the 'culturescape': A Young Blackbird Dies in My Hands, AppernackHamlet soliloquy 'I have of late but wherefore I know not...' from the film Withnail & I (1989, Richard E Grant as Withnail)Dido's Lament - 'When I Am Laid in Earth' from Dido & Aeneas, Henry Purcell - Kirsten FlagstadPhilip Larkin reading his poem Home Is So SadChopin's Prelude 13, Op.28 played by Alfred Cortot 'The Optimism of Melancholia | Slavoj Žižek | Big Think' (excerpt)Fading Lights Are Fading, Set Fire To Flames Clip from Melancholia - 'Justine and Claire' (2011, Lars von Trier)Richard Wagner, Tristan und Isolde prelude Various field recordings from freesound.org For more info about the curator: neil-fitzgerald.com If you have an idea for a theme, or want your music or field recording used in a future episode: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min

  3. 07/15/2025

    On the River as God or Gods

    Running order of the 'culturescape': Prelude from Das Rhinegold by Richard Wagner (Rudolfe Kempe, Bayreuth performance)opening of TS Eliot's 'The Dry Salvages' from Four QuartetsCharley Patton, High Water Everywhere Part 1Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil excerptRobert Petway, Catfish BluesPike, Ted Hughes (read by the poet)Má Vlast, 2. Vltava, ou La Moldau, Smetana (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Talich, 1954)Various field recordings of rivers large and small from freesound.org For more info about the curator: neil-fitzgerald.com If you have an idea for a theme, or want your music or field recording used in a future episode: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

  4. 07/14/2024

    On Nonsense and Silliness, or why Wittgenstein was right

    Wittgenstein was right! Being silly is necessary for human happiness. NB. This episode contains contextualised use of the 'n' word in a sound clip from a gangster rapper* (see bold and asterisked below) Photo of Wittgenstein (see below)A Life in Pieces (BBC), Peter Cook, Ludovic Kennedy, Ep. 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree (1990)Take The Money And Run (1969), Woody AllenAnnie Hall (1977), Woody AllenTim Dog, Phone Conversation with Reporter (1991)*Play Better Golf with Peter Aliss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGP7V2ezE&ab_channel=kiuvideo (?) Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com Photo of a serious-looking Wittgenstein: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min

  5. 07/07/2024

    On Bill Callahan and Authenticity

    Some reflections on the authenticity that runs like a rich seam of truth in Bill Callahan's songs. How does he do it? 'When It Shows' - an old attempt at song-writing by yours truly'Say Valley Maker' (live) - from Rough Travel for a Rare Thing (2010) by Bill Callahan'Jim Cain' - from Sometimes I wish We Were An Eagle (2009) by Bill Callahan'Cowboy' - from Gold Record (2020) by Bill Callahan With huge thanks to Bill Callahan and Drag City Records for permission to use clips from the songs for this audio essay. :) Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  6. 06/30/2024

    On Kathleen Ferrier's Vocal Timbre

    A meandering exploration of why Kathleen Ferrier's voice is so unbearably moving. 'My Bonnie Lad (trad. Northumbrian folk song)Ca' the Yowes' (trad. Scottish folk song)'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gerkommen' - Gustav MahlerSymphony No. 4, 3rd movement (Ruhevoll) - Gustav Mahler Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  7. 06/23/2024

    On Emptiness

    A generally uplifting audio essay on emptiness and its consolations...ideal for day-tripping nihilists, naturally. Tracklist: Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu AyinkashGF Haas - Concerto Grosso No. 2 for ensemble and orchestra TS Eliiot reading an excerpt from 'Burnt Norton' from his Four QuartetsVilhelm Hammershoi, 'Interior in Strandgade, Sunlight on the Floor' Excerpt from GF Haas - Traum in des Sommers Nacht for orchestraFranz Kafka quoteJohn Fahey - Yes Jesus Loves MeExcerpt from GF Haas - Traum in des Sommers Nacht for orchestraDjango Reinhardt - Manoir De Mes RêvesVirginia Woolf, excerpt from 'Time Passes', To The Lighthouse (1927)Philip Larkin reading his poem 'Home is so sad'Beethoven performed by the Busch Quartet - String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: II. Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabileHamlet soliloquy - I have of late but wherefore I know not... from Withnail & I (1987)Macbeth - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow soliloquy - Orson Welles (1948)GF Haas - String Quartet No. 2 (1998) Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu Ayinkash All the above used under fair usage rights. Get in touch to nit-pick and/or berate my inadequacies: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

A meandering essayistic mix of music, film and literature, field recordings, and humour, all with one goal in mind: to provide a short audio day trip for nihilists wherein they slow down and enjoy the world. All music clips and recordings are (hopefully) either out of copyright or used under fair usage. To get in touch: daytripsfornihilists@gmail.com or neil-fitzgerald.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Neil Fitzgerald
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Neil Fitzgerald
  • Show Website
    Day Trips for Nihilists