NRR Project: The King James Bible
Read by Alexander Scourby
Recorded 1940-1944
80 hours
I could not do better than Cary O’Dell’s explanatory essayat the National Recording Registry website. It is clear and comprehensive. Read it.
I will say that Alexander Scourby’s voice was familiar to us as the voice of National Geographic. He narrated 18 N.G. television specials from 1966 to 1985. We grew up with his mellow tones, and thought, without knowing about this project, of him as the voice of God.
It’s appropriate then that he recorded the King James Bible. Its particular wording and phrasing (it was published in 1611) are rich and memorable. The resulting effect for the listener is that of a dignified and holy text, well worth listening to – if only to witness the definitive sound of its narrator. (Plus he pronounces for us all those jaw-breaking ancient names.) It’s an invaluable reference to one of civilization's foundational books.
The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Fibber McGee and Molly.
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