"Forest Listening Rooms" Update; Duke Photos; Many Hands
This month's newsletter features a short video from the first Forest Listening Room in Shawnee, Ohio. There are also photos from recent shows at Duke Performances. Finally, as a thank you for signing up for my newsletter, follow the link below to receive two exclusive tracks and a corresponding score from a set of new piano pieces called "Many Hands." With gratitude, Brian
Forest Listening Rooms: Participants tell their stories in the Wayne National Forest.
From the Field: Forest Listening Room #1
Last month, the first "Forest Listening Rooms" events took place, where participants came to the Tecumseh Lake Trail in Shawnee, Ohio to listen to the forest.
We took a soundwalk together, paying attention to both the beauty and the scars present across the landscape: the sounds of animals, of the dense forest, and also the sounds of acid mine drainage in nearby streams, and the crunch of century-old coal underfoot. We then sat together in silence, listening for 15 minutes, followed by archival recordings of past local residents from the town.
Finally, we had a “story circle.” Following the guidelines set forth by Roadside Theater, we told each other our own stories about the Wayne National Forest: about land use, extraction, work, and family history. Each part of this process is meant to build both a trust between participants –– who may come from different backgrounds, beliefs, or political convictions –– and encourage personal transformation through experiencing the sounds and silences of the forest. The forest became a mediator, a common point between participants, an opening to some small personal and social change.
Duke Performances Photos
"Shawnee, Ohio" was performed twice last month for the Duke Performances Series, at the newly finished Rubenstein Arts Center. The venue, staff, excellent musicians, and attentive audiences all made these some of our most special performances yet.
Above is our attempt at an infinity mirror photo, taken in the green room; from left to right are: James Farley (viola), myself, Liz Fisher (violin), T.J. Borden (cello), Katie Porter (bass clarinet), Andrew Meyer (sax), and Aaron Butler (vibes). Missing: Anna Roberts Gevalt (banjo, violin).
Find more photos and more information on "Shawnee, Ohio" below.
Thank You: "Many Hands"
As a thank you to new subscribers to this newsletter, I recently started giving away two new exclusive tracks from a new piece called, "Many Hands." I am also including a score for the pieces. The pieces are part of a 12-movement work composed this summer for 2-6 people on a single piano.
I thought I would extend this thanks to earlier subscribers, too. So, many heartfelt thanks for your interest in the projects I am working on, and I hope you enjoy these pieces!