LOST TO THE SOUNDS OF THE WORLD FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, SOPRANO, AND ELECTRONICS

Abstract

Inspired by the vivid and poetic writing of American environmentalist Sigurd F. Olson, Lost to the Sounds of the World explores how place might be exhibited through music and how one might use music as a ‘place’ of its own: a place to think, a place to escape, or a place to discover. Scored for chamber orchestra, soprano, and electronics, this work is 33 minutes in length. The title is taken from a passage found in Olson’s book Listening Point, where he paints an arresting picture of finding fulfillment and wonder in nature. In the first chapter of the book, Olson describes his ideal plot of land—his Listening Point—one which contained everything he needed to be able to think clearly, to experience wonder, and to recapture curiosity. While he lists only his own personal criteria, he later emphasizes that everyone has a listening point of their own, a place which reflects their own needs and values. The first movement of the piece, titled all that is worth listening for, invites the listener to consider for themselves what kind of ‘place’ their own listening point might be. The piece begins with a field recording of rain I made while on a camping trip in Northern Minnesota, the same wilderness that Olson fought his entire life to protect. This rain is then filtered into a hazy chord which is later echoed by the percussion, piano, and soprano as they gradually enter the texture. When the rain clears, the soprano begins to sing text inspired by Olson’s list. Also inspired by the artist Christi Belcourt and her environmentally conscious painting The Wisdom of the Universe, the second movement, titled one beating organism pulsing like a heart, represents the pulsations of life all around us. With this movement, I wanted to write music someone could get lost in, music with blurred edges, and music which is constantly becoming something new. Each instrument fades into and out of a sprawling tapestry of pulsations creating an immersive texture, a space for reflection, and a place to become lost in.