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Soundcheck

Wednesday, April 21, 2004
  • Composers Nathan Currier and Bruce Adolphe (photos: unknown and Christian Slater)
    Composer Nathan Currier | Composer Bruce Adolphe (unknown | Christian Slater)

    You Say it's Your Earth Day?

    Tomorrow is Earth Day, which makes it a fine time to look at two "eco-friendly" musical works. We’re joined by composer Nathan Currier whose new oratorio, "Gaian Variations" attempts to illustrate through music the Gaia Hypothesis—'the theory that all life on Earth is part of one giant system which shapes its own environment. Currier's massive score features an orchestra and a full complement of choruses, vocal soloists, pianists, a string quartet, harmonica player, and a dance company. We also visit with composer Bruce Adolphe, who previews his new music-and-poetry spectacular, "Oceanophony." Staged in the newly renovated Hall of Ocean Life in the American Museum of Natural History, the musical voyage depicts fantastical creatures from the ocean deep like the Sarcastic Fringehead Fish, the Stoplight Parrotfish, Octopus, Puffer, Seahorses and more.

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.