Composers Craft Musical Responses to Olmsted Parks in “Lungs of the City”

Billings Lawn at Fort Tryon. Photo by Ayumi Okada.

Billings Lawn at Fort Tryon Park. Photo courtesy of Ayumi Okada.

Landscape Music’s 2022 collaboration, Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music, is a program of new chamber music commemorating the bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted, the 19th century American landscape architect who laid the groundwork for today’s public parks, famously envisioned Central Park as “the lungs of the city.” This unique concert program explores that sentiment through musical investigations of Olmsted’s living legacy of vital urban landscapes across the United States, transporting listeners on a journey from New England to the Pacific Northwest.

portrait of Frederick Law Olmsted

Frederick Law Olmsted

In this post, we’ll get to know the program’s eight World Premiere works and their composers, who are all members of Landscape Music’s network, by exploring their landscape inspirations and creative approaches in their own words.

Juventas New Music Ensemble presents the first performance of this program on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 8:00pm EDT at the Multicultural Arts Center in East Cambridge, MA. The event will also be available for free as a live broadcast on YouTube.

Several more performances of “Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music” will be presented by collaborating ensembles in cities in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. during the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2022. American Wild Ensemble will perform free site-specific outdoor concerts in two of the Olmsted parks featured on the program: Fort Tryon Park, New York, NY, on May 27 at 6:30pm and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY, on May 28 at 12:00pm at the Audubon Center. Juventas New Music Ensemble will repeat the program at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, MA, also the subject of a work on the concert, on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm EDT. Michigan Technological University Department of Visual and Performing Arts will also present the program in Houghton, MI in October 2022, which will also be live-streamed online for free.

Olmsted 200 Celebrating Parks for All PeopleVisit the project page for updates with more information about these events and additional concert dates as they are announced.

“Lungs of the City” was co-curated and co-commissioned by Landscape Music in partnership with American Wild Ensemble, Juventas New Music Ensemble, and Michigan Technological University Department of Visual and Performing Arts. This project is proud to be a Celebration Partner of Olmsted 200.

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Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, known as Fairsted. Photo: NPS.

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Brookline, MA
Ryan Suleiman, Piece of Mind

“Frederick Law Olmsted is considered the “father of landscape architecture” in the United States. Though not exactly a household name, his impact on his country was profound and his aesthetic was visionary in the nineteenth century, designing the first urban parks, including Central Park, Emerald Necklace, Stanford University’s campus, and many more. Contrary to the European aesthetic, Olmsted was keen on “listening” to nature. Though a park is by definition human-made, his designs focused on local landscapes and allowed them to be themselves. In crowded, noisy, stressful city-environments, he believed we all deserved a place to stop and take in nature.

Olmsted’s home and office, Fairsted (Brookline, MA), is where his firm operated, and this location – a park and creative studio – provides the inspiration for Piece of Mind. The piece is about stillness, contemplation, the creative process, and above all, letting sounds and silences simply be themselves.”

Ryan Suleiman headshotThe music of Ryan Suleiman engages with daydreams and the natural world – in particular, the simultaneity of sublime beauty and dread of living in our times. His work has been performed throughout the United States at such festivals as SICPP (New England Conservatory), June in Buffalo (NY), NANOworks Opera Workshop (Atlanta), and Snap Shot (San Francisco). He completed his Ph.D. at University of California, Davis and is currently Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston. ryansuleiman.com

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The Emerald Necklace, Boston, MA
Oliver Caplan, The Emerald Necklace

“In 1880, Frederick Law Olmsted […] envisioned a ribbon of greenspaces winding through the city of Boston, Massachusetts and neighboring Brookline. The 7-mile linear route would ultimately connect the existing Boston Common and Public Garden to Franklin Park, with a series of new paths and parks, including The Fens, The Riverway and Jamaica Pond. The realized dream became known as the Emerald Necklace for its appearance on maps of Boston, like a string of green jewels. Today, the Emerald Necklace encompasses 1,100 acres of parkland, over half of the city’s park acreage.

When I first moved to Boston in 2004, the Emerald Necklace captured my imagination. It seemed almost a contradiction, to be in the heart of the city, yet able to walk for miles through wooded groves and along winding riverways. In Olmsted’s parks, I found peace, refuge and inspiration for my composing.

This piece is a love letter to a dear old friend, a remembrance of myriad moments in urban nature, from misty mornings to spring blooms.”

Oliver Caplan headshotAward-winning composer Oliver Caplan writes melodies that nourish our souls, offering a voice of hope in an uncertain world. Mr. Caplan’s works have been performed in over 175 performances nationwide. He has been commissioned by the Atlanta Chamber Players, Bella Piano Trio and Bronx Arts Ensemble, among others. Winner of a Special Citation for the American Prize in Orchestral Composition, additional recognitions include Veridian Symphony Competition Wins and the Fifth House Ensemble Competition Grand Prize. His 2017 album You Are Not Alone was featured on Apple Music’s Classical A-list and has been streamed over 200,000 times. Mr. Caplan is the Artistic Director of Juventas New Music Ensemble. olivercaplan.com

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Fort Tryon Park, New York, NY
Ayumi Okada, Golden Hour Walk at Fort Tryon Park

“When I heard of the project “Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music,” I immediately thought of portraying Fort Tryon Park as the subject of my composition. Fort Tryon Park is located in Washington Heights by the Hudson River. I have been a resident of New York City since 2009, but it was not until 2017, when I moved to Washington Heights, that I truly began to enjoy living in the city. The view of the sunset over the river above all is one of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen.

The immense beauty of the park designed by the Olmsted Brothers completely changed my perception of the busy city. Having daily access to the park gave me the comfort that I had been searching for for so long. I am grateful for this opportunity to show my gratitude toward the creators of this special park through my music.

Depicted in the piece is one of the most memorable walks I have taken in the park: a walk during the golden hour on a day after the winter solstice. The specific sites and views of the park featured in the piece include Heather Garden, Billings Lawn, Pine Lawn, and the views of The Palisades and the Hudson River.”

Portrait of Ayumi Okada on city street

Ayumi Okada is a New York-based composer. Inspired by stories and natural landscapes, her music fuses traditional and modern sounds to create a unique compositional voice in the domains of concert and theatre. Her music has been performed by ensembles including Listen Closely, A.W. Duo, and Musica Verto Novo. Recent commissions include works for Lungs of the City and Abundant Silence. A native of Kyoto, Japan, she holds a degree from Mannes College of Music. ayumiokada.com

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Sun shines through trees in late fall

Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of Nell Shaw Cohen.

Prospect Park & Central Park, New York, NY
Nell Shaw Cohen, Breath of the Meadow, Heart of the Woodland

“Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted described urban parks as “the lungs of the city.” My music responds to Olmsted & Vaux’s expression of this metaphor through the iconic meadows and woodlands of New York City’s Prospect Park (1867) and Central Park (1858).

A lyrical theme, accompanied by sustained chords held against the flow of undulating triplets, opens and closes the piece. This music evokes the parks’ meadows, where the human body and the body of the landscape are connected through shared “breath.” Stepping off a busy sidewalk into these wide open spaces, the sensation of my lungs filling with fresh air feels like the echo of a gentle breeze blowing through treetops and grasses.

A middle section of syncopated rhythms and sinuous counterpoint recalls the parks’ winding woodland interiors, which reflect the “heart” of both visitor and landscape. These woodlands are spaces for contemplation and intimate conversation, where dense forest gives cover to an enigmatic network of footpaths.

Even as I cherish these two parks, I find their present-day terrain obfuscates a complex history. Seneca Village (1825-1857) was a vibrant Black community, which New York City’s government forcibly vacated in order to build Central Park. Both parks continue to occupy Lenapehoking: the unceded homeland of the Lenape.

The concept of parks as “lungs” may have come from Olmsted’s work in public health during the Civil War. Yet this idea feels strikingly poignant in our own time of pandemic and climate crisis, and has given inspiration and impetus to my music.”

Headshot of Nell Shaw Cohen

Nell Shaw Cohen evokes landscapes, visual art, and the lives of mavericks in her lyrical works for concert, stage, and digital media. Commissions include Houston Grand Opera, Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Boston Choral Ensemble, Laura Strickling, and The Brass Project. Her operas have had workshops with Fort Worth Opera, The American Opera Project, New Dramatists, New York University, and University of New Mexico. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley. nellshawcohen.com

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Belle Isle, Detroit, MI
Libby Meyer, Beauty of the Fields

“The Key to all Improvements of Belle Isle must be found in the character of the existing wood.”
—Frederick Law Olmsted, The Park for Detroit

“Beauty of the Fields celebrates two native plants that are in abundance on Belle Isle and plants that Olmsted certainly would have valued as adding to the beauty and serenity of the park. Each section focuses on a different flower; flowers that attract and nourish bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife as well as nourishing the spirit of visitors to the park.

1. asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed): floating, fragile, fragrant, free, orange

headshot of Libby Meyer Butterfly weed is a beautiful orange flower that is a particular favorite of monarchs who float majestically over them feeding on their nectar.

2. asclepias syriaca (common milkweed): buzzing, brilliant, busy, pink

Mostly known for their importance to the survival of the disappearing monarch butterfly, anyone who has ever stood in a field of milkweed knows that the flowers emit an intoxicating scent that attracts a symphony of honey bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The movement is constructed in unconnected “moments”, each unique and fleeting.”

Libby Meyer

Libby Meyer‘s work reflects the natural rhythms and patterns of the world around her. Her music including chamber, orchestral, choral, wind symphony, film, dance and theater has been commissioned and performed throughout the U.S. Libby has served as Composer-in-Residence at Isle Royale National Park and the Visby International Center for Composers (Sweden). She holds a DMA in Music Composition from Northwestern University and is a Senior Lecturer in Music Theory/Composition at Michigan Technological University. libbymeyermusic.com

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Olmsted Linear Park, Atlanta, GA
Michael-Thomas Foumai, Olmsted Gardens

Olmsted Gardens takes inspiration from the Olmsted Linear Park in Druid Hills Georgia. The area known as Druid Hills was developed by Atlantan Joel Hurt of the Kirkwood Land Company. In 1890 Hurt persuaded Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. to prepare a plan for a residential suburb.

The work is in four movements, a kind of park tour of four of the seven park segments. 

Beginning with Springdale, pastoral music, featuring the flute, paints a scenic gateway to the Linear Park, where visitors encounters a green knoll and a mature stand of oaks. 

Shadyside is named for the heavily wooded section on the southern side of the western end, the music bristles with woodland creatures, with gestures of  shadowy and lively activity.  

Virgilee, is named after Joel Hurt’s daughter; this park is her memorial. The landscape of this segment continues the pastoral scheme and the music reflects the memorial tones with a solemn horn in remembrance.

Deepdene, the largest segment, forms the eastern end of the Linear Park. It is a wooded tract with a stream winding through its 22 acres. The final movement, a lively dance, celebrates the park in a winding stream of melodies and rhythm.”

Michael-Thomas Foumai headshot

Michael-Thomas Foumai is a composer of contemporary concert music, arranger, and educator whose work spans the avant-garde to the commercial. His concert music focuses on storytelling and the history, people, and culture of his Hawaiʻi home. Performances of his work include those given by Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Lina Gonzalez-Granados with the National Symphony Orchestra, and Osmo Vänskä with the Minnesota Orchestra. michaelfoumai.com

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Christina Rusnak in Forest Park

Christina Rusnak in Forest Park. Photo courtesy of Christina Rusnak.

Forest Park, Portland, OR
Christina Rusnak, The Forest and the Architect

“In 1901, leaders in Portland Oregon, gathered to envision their city’s future. Portland hired Frederick Law Olmsted’s sons to design the city’s parks. John Charles Olmsted arrived by train in Portland in April 1903. Strategic, visionary planning was at the heart of the 1904 Olmsted report. Today virtually everyone in the city can easily walk to spacious and engaging parks.

As the vision’s cornerstone, Olmsted proposed that the densely wooded hills above northwest Portland be designated by the City as “a forest park.” The plans languished and Forest Park was plundered for over 40 years until advocates, and leaders committed to its completion in 1948. At 5,200 acres, it reigns as the largest urban forest in the United States and provides critical refuge for hundreds of native wildlife and plant species and acts as an important air and water filter. With more than 80 miles of trails, the park flanks the Tualatin Mountains, overlooking the city and the Willamette River providing invaluable access to nature, exercise, and educational opportunities. The Olmsteds’ contribution to this city is living, breathing and enduring.

I traverse the trails of Forest Park often. I sought to convey the forest’s inherent and contrasting elements – the sounds of the tiniest members of the forest’s inhabitants; the majesty of its towering trees; John Olmsted’s voice within the pages of the 1904 plan; trepidation as “progress” undermined the vision; the rebirth of the plan, and the joy of experiencing the park today as envisioned over a century ago.”

headshot of Christina RusnakChristina Rusnak passionately composes about place and the human experience. Ms. Rusnak has created many works for our national and cultural landscapes; her repertoire includes chamber, choral, orchestra, wind band, jazz, solo pieces, electro-acoustic works, and film. An advocate for New Music, she serves on the board of the International Alliance for Women in Music. Her works are available from Amazon, Naxos and Parma Recordings, with her scores available through her website. christinarusnak.com

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Cal Anderson Park, Seattle, WA
Justin Ralls, Olmsted 200: Theme and Variations

“Olmsted 200: Theme and Variations was composed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. The piece specifically commemorates the first Olmsted park in Seattle, Lincoln Park (later renamed Cal Anderson Park). Designed by the Olmsted firm (led by his son John C. Olmsted) between 1901 and 1904. The current urban park in Seattle’s Central District has changed over the years: like a palimpsest or theme and variations, each generation redefines the park for new needs and values.

The piece is measured in years beginning with the year of Olmsted’s birth, 1822. The theme passes through time, variations, and history, marking moments both for Olmsted and the park. Quotes of tunes, such as the Battle Hymn of the Republic,  heard in the park during the revivalist meetings in the early 20th Century appear in counterpoint with a Black Lives Matter chant. During the historic protests after the murder of George Floyd, the park became the epicenter of nightly clashes between protestors and police, as well as hub for mutual aid and organizing. The park remains a communal, democratic, yet also contested space, reflecting the tensions, needs, dreams, and stories of the people. The theme, symbolizing Olmsted’s ideal, is contrasted with busy arpeggios and metric changes which speed through the years eventually to open up into a formless future: a democratic musical space where the ensemble is free to create their own variations and ending, symbolic of how Olmsted’s vision is bound to remain, yet change in perpetual theme and variation.”

Justin Ralls headshotJustin Ralls, internationally recognized and award-winning composer, is inspired by the natural world: “a gifted melodist…a beautiful blend of natural and human-made music” (Artslandia), “impressive…showing a mastery of orchestral technique” (composer, John Adams), “definitely establishing his own voice” (SF Examiner). Ralls’ music engages ecologically and socially relevant themes in opera, orchestral, chamber, solo works, film music, and intercultural collaborations. He holds a Ph.D. in Music Composition, specializing in Nature, New Music, and Indigenous Thought. justinralls.com

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Map of locations of Olmsted parks

Locations referenced in Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music. Visit interactive map.

“Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music” is co-curated and co-commissioned by Landscape Music in partnership with American Wild Ensemble, Juventas New Music Ensemble, and Michigan Technological University Department of Visual and Performing Arts, and is a Celebration Partner of Olmsted 200.

Visit the project page for a list of concert dates.

Landscape Music 2022 Concert Series Celebrates Olmsted Parks

Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music

A Concert Series of New Chamber Music
Celebrating Public Parks & Commemorating Frederick Law Olmsted’s Birth

Featuring World Premieres by

Thumbnail image of Oliver Caplan
Oliver Caplan
Thumbnail image of Nell Shaw Cohen
Nell Shaw Cohen
Thumbnail image of Michael-Thomas Foumai
Michael-Thomas Foumai
Thumbnail image of Libby Meyer
Libby Meyer
Thumbnail image of Ayumi Okada
Ayumi Okada
Thumbnail image of Justin Ralls
Justin Ralls
Thumbnail image of Christina Rusnak
Christina Rusnak
Thumbnail image of Ryan Suleiman
Ryan Suleiman

Curated & Commissioned by

Landscape Music Logo

Music in the American Wild logo with bear

Juventas New Music Ensemble magenta logo
Michigan Technological University black and yellow logo

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Watch a full-length video of Juventas New Music Ensemble’s performance on March 26, 2022, live-streamed from the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, MA! Read the program book here.

Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music is a program of new chamber music commemorating the 2022 bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted, the 19th century American landscape architect who laid the groundwork for today’s public parks, famously envisioned Central Park as “the lungs of the city.” This unique concert program explores that sentiment through musical investigations of Olmsted’s living legacy of vital urban landscapes across the United States.

In a cross-regional collaboration amongst a consortium of ensembles and presenters, the concerts will take place in several cities in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. during the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2022. See our list of upcoming events below.

The all-World Premiere program will feature works for flute, clarinet, horn, percussion, violin, viola, and cello, by composers Oliver Caplan, Nell Shaw Cohen, Michael-Thomas Foumai, Libby Meyer, Ayumi Okada, Justin Ralls, Christina Rusnak, and Ryan Suleiman. These accomplished and musically diverse composers, hailing from New York to Hawaiʻi, are members of Landscape Music: a network of composers and performers whose music engages with landscape, nature, and place.

Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music is co-curated and co-commissioned by Landscape Music in partnership with American Wild Ensemble (also a member of Landscape Music), a chamber ensemble which celebrates the people, places, and stories that shape American history and culture through the commission and performance of new music; Juventas New Music Ensemble, a Boston-based contemporary chamber group with a special focus on emerging voices; and Michigan Technological University Department of Visual and Performing Arts, which presents concerts of new music with notable guest performers. All three performance partners will be giving concerts of this program on their 2022 seasons.

1868 Vaux & Olmstead Map of Central Park, New York City

1868 Vaux & Olmsted Map of Central Park, New York City

Eight musical responses to notable designs by Olmsted and his sons’ firm, Olmsted Brothers, will take audiences on an imaginative journey from New England to the Pacific Northwest. Locations to be highlighted include New York City’s Central Park, Prospect Park, and Fort Tryon Park; Boston’s Emerald Necklace and Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site; Atlanta’s Olmsted Linear Park; Detroit’s Bell Isle Park; Portland’s Forest Park; and Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park. Each work of music will conceptually engage with these parks through thematic lenses that are closely connected to Olmsted’s legacy and remain deeply relevant today.

For more information about Lungs of the City: Olmsted’s Parks in Music, please visit LandscapeMusic.com/Olmsted or contact Nell Shaw Cohen, Director of Landscape Music, at nell@landscapemusic.org.

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Concerts

Juventas New Music Ensemble
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8:00 pm EDT
Multicultural Arts Center
41 Second Street, East Cambridge, MA
In-Person & Live YouTube Broadcast

American Wild Ensemble
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 6:30pm EDT
Fort Tryon Park, Dongan Lawn, New York NY
Free – RSVP

American Wild Ensemble
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 12:00pm EDT
Prospect Park Audubon Center, Brooklyn, NY
Free – RSVP

American Wild Ensemble
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 7:00pm EDT
CCNY Spitzer School of Architecture, New York, NY
Free – Advance Registration Required

Juventas New Music Ensemble
Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm EDT
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Brookline, MA
Free – RSVP not needed

American Wild Ensemble
Sunday, August 7, 2022 at 6:00pm EDT
Highland Park Bowl, Highland Park, Rochester, NY
Free – More information

Michigan Technological University Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. EDT
Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
1400 Townsend Dr, Houghton, MI 49931
In-Person & Live Online Broadcast
Free Online Stream + Pay As You’re Able Tickets – More Information

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Olmsted 200 Celebrating Parks for All PeopleLandscape Music is proud to be a Celebration Partner of Olmsted 200.

April 26, 2022, marks the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, author, journalist, public official, city planner and father of American landscape architecture. Olmsted and his successor firms designed thousands of landscape projects across the country, transforming American life and culture. Olmsted’s vision of public parks for all people and his belief that parks strengthen communities and promote public well-being are now more important than ever.

Through events, education, and advocacy at the local and national levels, Olmsted 200 aims to keep Olmsted’s legacy alive by renewing public and policy commitments to the preservation and maintenance of our historic parks and places.

The National Association for Olmsted Parks is the managing partner of the Bicentennial. To learn more, visit the Olmsted 200 website for in-person and virtual event information, blog posts written by diverse thought leaders, teaching materials, and so much more. Subscribe to the Olmsted 200 newsletter for updates and inspiration, and follow Olmsted 200 on social media.

Free Event & New Music Video for Earth Day!

Since the start of 2020, Landscape Music’s composers have been commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with projects engaging environmental themes at the forefront of our global consciousness.

Our activities culminate this week with the 51st Earth Day! In this post, explore our:

  • Free online event this Wednesday (4/21)
  • Music video release
  • Round-up of featured Earth Year projects
  • Spotlights on the newest members of our network

Free Event This Wednesday, 4/21

U.S. Forest Service & VCAF present Earth Year Visions of the Wild Film and Arts Festival
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 5:00pm PDT
Learn more and register now

Composers from Landscape Music and musicians from Citywater, Sacramento’s premier new music ensemble, present their work in a free online event with the Visions of the Wild Film and Arts Festival, presented by the U.S. Forest Service and Vallejo Community Arts Foundation.

The audience will hear the World Premiere performances of two brand new works for flute and cello by Juhi Bansal and Daniel Morel, celebrating diverse locales from the biosphere reserves of the Azores to the apple orchards of Missouri. Composers Nell Shaw Cohen, Derek Keller, and Ryan Suleiman will introduce excerpts from their works, which respond to Andy Goldsworthy’s land art; the Sacramento watershed; and the devastation of the 2017 Sonoma wildfires, respectively.

This live presentation will conclude with an audience Q&A. Join us!


New Music Video by Anne Vanschothorst

Windmill

JUST RELEASED! Video “more birds more happiness” highlights sustainable energy through the beauty of wind power. New music for harp and soundscapes by Landscape Music composer Anne Vanschothorst are paired with film & photography of wind turbines in Zeeland, Netherlands.

“Between nature and music there is a mysterious, irreplaceable and eternal mystical connection. Besides conducting a symphony of sounds, nature gives, just like music, a source of inspiration and a place to be oneself.” Read more & watch the video!


More Earth Year Projects from Our Artists

In YouTube series Reflections on Music and NatureRyan Suleiman interviews composers, performers, and musical curators about the role of the natural world in their work in these troubled times.

 

Christina Rusnak‘s two new works for chamber ensemble, Dune and Water and Stone, are inspired by her time in Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley National Park.

 

Michael Futreal‘s short film Sentinels features animated photography scored with new music, evoking overlooked elements of a landscape that take on an animistic, mythic character.

 

Blueprints for Hope is a new work for concert band by Katherine Bergman in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, commissioned and premiered by a consortium of seven ensembles.

 


Spotlight on New Members


Music in the American Wild album coverAmerican Wild Ensemble
 (Springfield, MO)

Founded through a national touring initiative celebrating the National Park Service centennial, American Wild Ensemble encourages audiences to explore their environments through a different lens.

“American Wild Ensemble celebrates the people, places, and stories that shape American history and culture.” Visit American Wild Ensemble’s profile.

 

Portrait of Michael-Thomas Foumai

Michael-Thomas Foumai (Honolulu, HI)

Many of Foumai’s “vibrant and cinematic” works are inspired by his Hawaiʻi home.

“It is vital for me to create and to use music to tell the stories of our time, of what was, is and may come in the ever changing landscape of our blue island earth.” Visit Foumai’s profile.

 

Thumbnail image of Randy GibsonRandy J. Gibson (Philadelphia, PA)

Gibson’s “Tacony Creek Suite” is a monumental reflection of the beauty and travails of an under-appreciated green space in Philadelphia.

“My compositions are all duality in nature.” Visit Gibson’s profile.

 

Portrait of Ayumi Okada on city streetAyumi Okada (New York, NY)

Rich with melodic interest and storytelling, Okada’s music captures her impressions of scenery in New York City and Kyoto, Japan.

“Drawing a landscape with music is one of my biggest inspirations in composing.” Visit Okada’s profile.

 

Jessi HarveyJessi Harvey (Saint Paul, MN)

Harvey’s music, “full of surprises and consistently attention holding,” integrates creation with social and environmental causes.

“My music draws back to my childhood in the mountains of Montana.” Visit Harvey’s profile.

 

Portrait of Takuma Itoh at pianoTakuma Itoh (Honolulu, HI)

Itoh’s “brashly youthful and fresh” works raise awareness of Hawai‘i’s many endangered bird species.

“What I find most meaningful in my work is connecting with people.” Visit Itoh’s profile.

 

View our full list of 32 members (and growing!).