The Well-Tempered Ear

A changing Earth demands changing music to mark Earth Day

April 22, 2023
1 Comment

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By Jacob Stockinger

Today — Saturday, April 22 — is Earth Day 2023.

It is the 53rd annual celebration of the environment that was started on this date in 1970 by the former Wisconsin governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (below bottom).

As the website “Self-Help Africa” says: “Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to highlight environmental issues across the planet and demonstrate support for environmental protection.

“First held in the United States on April 22, 1970, it has since become THE BIGGEST SECULAR CELEBRATION OBSERVATION DAY IN THE WORLD, and an opportunity to highlight the issues and environmental challenges affecting our world.”

Here is the official Earth Day website: https://www.earthday.org/

Music has always been part of how the world celebrates the event.

But lately the trend in music seems to parallel the trends in the global warming crisis and species extinctions.

So, for example, in British composer Debbie Wiseman’s “Carnival of the Endangered Animals” in 2022 is meant to parallel but update the famous “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Other titles of works by contemporary composers that reflect current realities about the natural world are: “The Lost Birds” by American composer Christopher Tin (below top); “Mass for the Endangered” by American composer Sarah Kirkland Snider (below middle); “The Rising Sea” Symphony by British composer Kieran Brunt; and “Glaciers in Extinction” by Italian flutist and composer Roberto Fabbriciani (below bottom).

You can hear these and other contemporary works plus a more familiar and traditional musical celebration of the Earth and nature by Beethoven. Just go this site for Colorado Public Radio:

https://www.cpr.org/2023/04/12/an-ode-to-the-endangered-classical-music-you-should-listen-to-for-earth-day/

Do you have a favorite among the new pieces?

Is there other music you think is appropriate to celebrate Earth Day and the natural world as they exist today?

What composers and pieces do you suggest listening to?

The Ear wants to hear. 


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