Soundcheck

Composer Nathan Currier | Composer Bruce Adolphe (unknown | Christian Slater)

You Say it's Your Earth Day?

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

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.

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