Christopher Cerf: Sound and Image

Multimedia creator Christopher Cerf ’63 (profiled in the July-August issue of the magazine) has been an important force in educational television for many years. Here are a few samples from two programs in which he has played a central creative role.

The three audio clips here (at left) are all drawn from the series Lomax, the Hound of Music, which aims to teach music by drawing on the folk tradition.  Kitty in the Straw is a feline variant on the classic Turkey in the Straw. The Arkansas Traveler offers a straightforward rendition of the folk standard. The show's theme song, The Melody Hound Express, uses new lyrics set to the melody of the venerable Wabash Cannonball.

Three video clips come from the literacy-oriented series Between the Lions (BTL). The "Double O 'oo'" clip explores the possibilities of the "oo" sound in a soul-music setting.

The "W Trouble" excerpt employs  a lilting country-and-western sound to lament the "trouble" that the letter W poses.

The "Between the Lions theme music and opener" introduces the leonine librarians who are the show's hosts.

Click here for the July-August 2011 issue table of contents

You might also like

This Astronomer is Sounding a Warning on 'Space Junk'

As debris accumulates in low Earth orbit, the danger of destructive collisions continues to rise.

Understanding AI Vulnerabilities

As artificial intelligence capabilities evolve, so too will the tactics used to exploit them. 

Crypto—To Regulate or Not?

The former director of Harvard’s fintech lab reflects on the future of digital assets.

Most popular

See Their Faces

Confronting “some of the most challenging images in the history of photography”

House Committee Subpoenas Harvard Over Tuition Costs

The University must turn over all requested materials related to tuition and financial aid by mid-July. 

The Professor Who Quantified Democracy

Erica Chenoweth’s data shows how—and when—authoritarians fall.

Explore More From Current Issue

New Harvard Overseers and HAA Directors

Alumni showed increased interest in this year’s elections.

How Harvard Students Handle Political Disagreements

The Undergraduate asks if intellectualism is really on life support.