Dear Guests, Welcome to my blog which I treat like a creative garden where I regularly plant and change this and that be it poetry, philosophy, an Oboe Brilliance lesson, an essay of some kind, or a journal about composing. Visit every Monday for oboe coaching which is also helpful for many melodic instrumentalists. Musically yours, Kathryn

"How do you compose?" That is the most commonly asked question I hear.
This blog is a window into my creative process and philosophies as a composer and instrumentalist. At times it may contain music, photos, and poetry as well. May you enjoy, return, and benefit!

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18

About the "In adoration of the earth" music

Preface: The times in my childhood that helped me become an environmentalist

My foundation as an environmentalist is simple. I deeply, and sincerely love the beauty and magnificence of our planet earth. Aren't we all born with that? There is also a savage and terrifying beauty to the wild forces of our planet. The elements combined with the powers of creation, destruction, decay, nurishment, dormancy, protection and more in the persistent dance never ceases to mystify me.

As a young girl I spent many hours by the Great South Bay. I would have like to be swimming in it, but the water was so polluted that, unlike the generation before me, I could not enjoy swimming or being in it because my skin would break out into a rash. This was not the case for all the children my age. But I was still aware that the water and the sea life in it was all polluted. The oysters were all but extinct and I remember eating a raw clam off the half shell (a great delight for me as a girl) for the last time because the clammers in my hometown new that it was getting too dangerous to eat them raw. Sometime clammers sold clams to restaurant owners in NYC even if they were from a "red tide" which was illegal even back then.

In 1976 I remember seeing the sludge riding on the waves at Jones Beach. I remember seeing it crash onto swimmers and I feel naseous at just the memory of this.

In 1983 on the day I would have graduated from HS (I graduated a year early), I went canoeing with the Suffolk County Canoe Club around Manhattan Island. After years of being a swamp, river, boundary water, and white water canoeist, I was appauled at how vile the water and how polluted NYC was. Meanwhile Times magazine was showing people swimming in the Hudson River and claiming that it was clean! I would report the pollution having been sitting and canoeing right in the river myself, and people I spoke with would allow the Times article to eclipse the reality of what I told them.

In 1980 I went camping and canoeing in the Everglades as part of the Audobon Society bird count. I only went once, but I was with others who had participated before and saw how bereft they were at the dwindling numbers AND species. My dad said that he wanted me to see certain beautiful birds before they were extinct.

How powerful is that?

Sometime before that, let's see, 1977, I went canoeing and camping for almost 2 weeks off the grid in the boundary waters of Maine and Canada. After my ears stopped ringing - took a few days - I was able to experience life in a new way sonically and rhythmically. This experience has drastically changed my life and my perspective of life, just like the Manhattan Island paddle changed my perspective of are humans foot print.

Intense earth events such as hurricanes and earth quakes certainly has influenced me. I thought I was breathing my last during the 1989 - (I think that was the year) quake in SF as my refrigerator boogied across my girating kitchen complete with shimmying cabinets and rattling china. It was as if the earth which had been solid under my feet my whole life turned into a canoe resting on top of rough water.

The first week I was in SF, I enjoyed a boat ride from David, the then Pres. of the green party. I loved seeing the seals and SF from the perspective of the boat as a newcomer to the Bay Area. It was MUCH nicer than NYC!!!

I adore the earth in an awestruck way. When I recall the danger of wilderness camping and the forces of nature, I am more awestruck at the survival of animals along with the savage beauty and balance in land and sea scapes.

Now about my music.

"Agigua" which is the oldest name I could find for the French Broad River here in NC. It is reported to be the third oldest river in the world pre dating the ice age.
As I mentioned previously, I used to spend a lot of time on or by the water. This river, feels, flows, and sounds different. I'm enthralled by it, so I composed an orchestral work portraying it.

"Listening to an ancient forest" is the title for my string 4tet. For professional level double bass, cello, viola, and violin. I just meditated for a long time out in an old growth forest in NC and listened very carefully. This string 4tet captures the active stillness and difference of sonic/rhythmic experience of an old growth which is vastly different than the feelings of being in the woods and most assuredly in modern life- as hopefully you know - forgive me if I write like I'm breaking news to you - I try not to assume anyone knows anything when I'm conveying something as to not skip over something important sometimes. This music sounds like nothing I've ever heard.

"The secret of ravens" oboe duet series. Three are completed and have been performed. THe fourth is sketched out, more to come. - I hear 7 all told. These works are accessible. People enjoy playing and hearing them even though they are unlike what has been heard before. I am greatly complimented when people say that this music sounds like no other composer, it is unpredictable and yet it sounds like just the right thing is happening. Oh, I lOVE that! Ravens are dear to me. When I had a vision during my first Kundalini raise, I saw a raven so it is a sacred totem animal to me. These duets will go in "Oboe Brilliance".

"In Adoration of the Raven" - oboe solo. I just more and more oboe music about ravens - it's my trip!

"Citrakaya" this is in adoration of the Cheetah. Citrakaya is the sanskrit name for cheetah which also translates into body of light. This is for virtuosic solo oboe and like my first full orchestral piece and string 4tet, is ground breaking for me. - hmmm, now I'm thinking about that term - ground breaking - Okay, how about, is a milestone for me!! "Oboe Brilliance"

"Hawk in flight" for solo double bass. Important work. Nice pizz work and bowing. Celebrates the beauty of a preditor. The destructive energy is gorgeous and has an important place in the balance of nature. I am amazed at it's beauty. I like to look down on hawks flying from high vantage points here in Asheville. Treble clef version exists too. (So I can play it on oboe.) It will be in "Oboe Brilliance".

"In adoration of the Fox" oboe solo. Crafty, gorgeous, sly and cunning. It will go in "Oboe Brilliance".

"Sea turtle" for beginning oboe - could be enjoyed by other instruments, I have versions in different clefs. It will go in "Oboe Brilliance".

"Bald Eagle Flying" this is a 14 plus minute electronic sounds sculpture in mp3 format and I can't wait to upload it onto my website. It's 13 MB which is too much right now to upload. This is inspired by this continent, the Bald Eagle of course, and shammanic drumming. It is an active trance state piece which is extrememly important to me. If you are reading this and you'd like me to email it to you, just ask.

"The Viper" another oboe solo which will be included in "Oboe Brilliance" is a piece that is snakey. Oboe begs for snakey sounds. I've seen quite a few snakes in my life and was born year of the serpent in Chinese zodiac.

"In adoration of the giraffe" cello suite for Meredith Blecha. A must play for any giraffe loving professional cellist!! Just contact me - and we'll take it from there.

Okay, Muscially yours,
Kathryn