We watch as the world’s fate is decided at Glasgow. Will we find a pathway to a survivable future?
I claim no special expertise in these matters. I know enough science to trust scientists in general, and enough about data to tell the difference between an honest and a misleading graph. I’m a musician, not a climatologist.
Are you following the Conference? Perhaps the endless minutiae of policy negotiations and the deadly consequences of a few decimal points here or there are wearing you down.
Allow me to offer you a place of repose.
Register at Music4ClimateJustice to get a little balm for your soul, while reminding yourself of the things that make our dear beloved stupid human species worth saving in the first place.
Let’s think about what we want to save.
What we need to save if we are to think of ourselves as worth saving at all.
Music 4 Climate Justice is offering almost five hours of music every day between now and the end of COP-26, streaming pre-recorded music videos from Glasgow. There is music from all over, in hundreds of different styles, from countless countries, in scores of languages.
I’ve been working on assembling this extraordinary musical menu for...well, for years.
Every musician in our program also has spoken words for the policy-makers, for the politicians, for the world: Climate Change Is Real, It’s Dangerous, Action Is Long Past Due — spoken in many languages, in many ways.
Take 90 seconds to get a taste of what we’ve been putting on starting November 4.
Today’s musical program is listed below. The previous days’ offerings are available for your enjoyment at the site.
Friday, November 12.
Starting time 7:00 PM GMT.
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0:00:00 — 0:30:00: Segment 1:
Amos Roach — “Amos has been playing keyboard, guitar, bass and Yidaki (didgeridoo) since he was eight, and is acknowledged as one of Australia’s best Yidaki players. A cultural practitioner, traditional First Nations culture informs the fundamentals of his craft. Amos’ music is part of the songline that connects people and Country. He uses traditional instruments, songs, music and dance to tell stories of Songlines, Family and Country and aims to bring traditional instruments into the mainstream canon.
As a musician, Amos has regularly performed with a host of bands and artists like Sandy Evans, Black Magic, No Fixed Address and with his father, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter and the Roach Family Band. Amos also curates his own events showcasing First Nations performers, and is Director of dance troupe Murrundaya Yepengna.”
Sol y Canto — “Sol y Canto is the award winning Pan-Latin ensemble led by Puerto Rican/Argentine singer and bongo player Rosi Amador and New Mexican guitarist and composer Brian Amador. Featuring Rosi’s crystalline voice and Brian’s lush Spanish guitar and inventive compositions, Sol y Canto is known for making their music accessible to Spanish- and non-Spanish speaking audiences of all ages. Rosi and Brian are often joined by their daughter Alisa Amador, whose powerful songs and gorgeous, supple voice have launched her onto the Boston singer-songwriter scene. On occasion the group is accompanied by virtuoso musicians from Latin America and the U.S.”
Joseph Armanetti — “I was blown away when I first heard Joe perform Last Stand. I likened its passionate poetry to the gut-wrenching songs that captivated me during various Grassy Hill Kerrville (Texas) New Folk Competitions. I identified with the “call to action” urgency of its message.
Joe’s music ranges from a “country rock” tempo to beautiful, mellow, sweet sounds. His music sometimes brings tears to my eyes. His “pure fun and excitement” compositions compel me to dance (in body or imagination) to my heart’s desire! Joe’s presence and presentation often remind me of the exhilarating energy and versatility of Garth Brooks. -Linda Pauline Chatalian-”
Donald & Anicet Heller — “Hurdy-gurdy music of Renaissance Europe. Gurdybusker is busking in Cambridge and Boston Massachussets USA. I am the Hurdy-Gurdy Man! Ich bin der Drehleierman! Je suis le vielleur!”
Renaissonics — “Renaissance music comes alive in the robust performances of Renaissonics. Simultaneously historical and contemporary in its approach, the group plays as musicians of the era played --vigorously and improvisationally. Renaissonics' stylish performances allow audiences to experience the elegance and excitement of Renaissance music as it was intended to be heard. Music of the past is suddenly music of today. Virtuoso solos, chamber music, dance music and dazzling improvisations combine in a program that joyously bridges the gap between the artistic and pop. Renaissonics is a unique blend of members, all of whom are internationally recognized soloists, dance musicians, and improvisors. Their playing vibrantly blends this extensive expertise into performances that are continually original.”
0::30:00 — 1:00:00: segment 2
Columbia University Gagaku Ensemble — “Gagaku (雅楽, lit. "elegant music") is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. Gagaku was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794-1185) around the 10th century.”
Senders-Sundaram Family Madrigals — This is me, my wife Vijaya, and our daughter Sharada. We sing Renaissance madrigals together every evening. So we’re sharing a few of these lovely part-songs with everyone.
Trio Triumphatrix — A song this NY-based vocal group’s new project, “Astronautica, Voices of Women In Space: “
Newly commissioned by Voices of Ascension, Astronautica is a concert event of music and video by women, inspired by and based on the words of women astronauts.
1:00:00 — 1:45:00: Segment 3
Interviews & Music:
Thinking in the Long Term
Arthur Ganson — “Arthur Ganson began making kinetic sculpture in 1977. Since receiving a BFA degree at the University of New Hampshire in 1978, his work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums in both the United States and Europe. He has held residencies at a number of institutions including the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, where he has maintained an ongoing exhibition of his kinetic sculpture at the MIT Museum since 1995.
“The kinetic sculptor shows and discusses his piece, Beholding The Big Bang. Related to an earlier work Machine with Concrete, the motor drives a series gears designed to reduce its input speed such that it will take 13.7 billion years to turn the final gear in the train, embedded in a concrete block, once. This is the estimated age of the universe. (At the moment of construction. The estimate is always changing!)”
Rainer Neuegebauer & The John Cage Organ Project — “Organ2/ASLSP (As Slow as Possible) is a musical piece by John Cage and the subject of one of the longest-lasting musical performances yet undertaken. Cage wrote it in 1987 for organ, as an adaptation of his 1985 composition ASLSP for piano. A performance of the piano version usually lasts 20 to 70 minutes.[1]
An organ in St. Burchardi church in Halberstadt in 2001 began a performance that is due to end in 2640. The next note will be played on 5th February 2022.”
Nicholas Paul Brysiewicz & The Long Now Foundation — “The Long Now Foundation was established in 01996* to develop the Clock and Library projects, as well as to become the seed of a very long-term cultural institution. The Long Now Foundation hopes to provide a counterpoint to today's accelerating culture and help make long-term thinking more common. We hope to foster responsibility in the framework of the next 10,000 years.”
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Interstitial Music segment:
Rebecca Dayina — Singer from Ghana.
1:45:00 — 2:00:00: Segment 4
Antarguru Saikeshav — “Antarguru Sai Keshav is a young Indian Mystic, Musician and Healer hailing from Bangalore, India. He has recently authored the book "From A Mystic's Diary", which describes his journey and spiritual practices on the path to Mysticism. An intense spiritual practitioner; Antarguru is of the firm belief borne out of direct experience, that any form of change, be it social or economic or spiritual, has to be initiated from within rather than being enforced from without. The change or transformation invoked from within manifests the change in the external environment too, without any additional effort whatsoever. “
Steve Gorn & Warren Senders — Steve Gorn and I made the CD “Wings and Shadows” back in the late 1990s. It’s apparently gained quite a following among connoisseurs of ambient music. This is a piece from that recording.
2:00:00 — 2:30:00: Segment 5
Aarifah Rebello — “Aarifah Rebello is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, drummer from Mumbai. Besides playing the drums for Ladies Compartment and Toycatcher, she is currently working on her solo project as ‘aarifah’. Her most notable achievements include collaborating with producer ‘Sandunes’ as a part of Red Bull’s Searching for Sound, playing drums with Madame Gandhi on her India tour and performing for celebrated Grammy Award Winner Yo-Yo Ma on his recent visit to Mumbai.”
Leslie Helpert — “Helpert has composed over 1000 pieces of music and has performed in over 200 venues. She was endorsed by the ministry of cultural affairs in Bermuda as the first musician-in-resident. Additionally, Helpert internationally performs tributes to Billie Holiday. She is a teacher of voice and yoga as well as a spoken word poet, dancer, beat-boxer, illustrator and novelist; her music is informed by the entirety of her artwork.”
Mahesh Raghunandan — “Mahesh is a musician from Bangalore, India who is coming to be known as one of the best singer-songwriters in the country. His official debut studio EP titled “Accept” was released in September 2018 with critical praise.Singles were included in the official iTunes playlist "The A-List: Pop" and the official Spotify Playlist 'Indie-an Rock.' Drawing influences from various styles of music, Mahesh's songwriting and vocal abilities have been favorably compared to the likes of John Mayer, Damien Rice, Radiohead, and Jeff Buckley.”
Carolina Cury — “Carolina Cury (1997) is Italian and Brazilian, is a modern singer and classical pianist, loves the old but looks for the new, is from Venice but lives in London.”
Justin Purtill — “Justin Purtill has performed, recorded, and toured with the likes of Stu Allen, Edgar Bateman, Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, Roosevelt Collier, Hal Crook, David "Fuze" Fiuczynski, The Fringe, Brahim Fribgane, Bob Gullotti, George Garzone, Leo Genovese, Donna Jean Godchaux, Bill Goodwin, Hassan Hakmoun, Joe Hunt, Steve Kimock, Matt Kilmer of The MAST, Eric Kloss, Francisco Mela, Rakalam Bob Moses, Tisziji Munoz, Tiger Okoshi, Thomas Pridgen, Residente, Melvin Seals and the JGB, John Shannon, Esperanza Spalding, Nat Mugavero's Sewer Rats, Kendrick Scott, and Paul Wertico.“
Gina Mirenda — Is a singer-songwriter from Costa Rica. She is a passionate Music Educator and Vocalist. Skilled in Vocal Coaching, Vocal Ensemble, Ear Training and Sight Singing, Jazz and Classical Voice, Latin American Music. Strong education professional with a Masters in Music focused in Contemporary Performance from Berklee College of Music.
2:30:00 — 2:45:00: Segment 6
Ethnomusicology in Africa
BaAKA MUSIC AND DANCE
Dr. Michelle Kisliuk — Dr. Kisliuk lived with the BaAka pygmies — the “Forest People” — in the Central African Republic for several years, and has worked with their community ever since. In this segment, she shares some never-before-seen video of BaAka community life, singing, and dancing. These are people who live in a genuine harmony with the ecosystem around them. You want to see how it’s done? This is how it’s done.
Shona mbira music.
Samaita & Christine Botsa — The ethnomusicologist Erica Azim runs Mbira.org, dedicated to propagating the traditional music of Zimbabwe. She introduces this recording of a mother & son singing and playing mbira to “call the rain.”
2:45:00 — 3:00:00: Segment 7
Chaitanya Kunte — “Dr. Keshavchaitanya J. Kunte, popularly known in the field of Music as Chaitanya Kunte, is a multi-dimensioned personality, who has received great appreciation as a Composer, Scholar and Harmonium player.
Chaitanya has received extensive training in Hindustani music under able guidance of his Guru Dr. Arawind Thatte. He has also benefitted by the valuable guidance by Pt. Mohanrao Karve for vocal music and Dr. Ashok Da. Ranade for Ethnomusicology. Additionally, Chaitanya has enriched his knowledge of music & musicology in acquaintance of many maestros & scholars such as Pt. Balasaheb Puchhawale, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Pt. Vasantrao Rajurkar, Pt. Sharad Sathe and NrityaPandita Rohini Bhate.”
Josh Plotner — “Josh Plotner is a New York-based saxophonist, woodwind multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and international recording artist. As an instrumentalist, Josh has amassed a collection of over 100 woodwind instruments. At the beginning of his career, Josh focused mostly on jazz and classical music. Soon he picked up flute and clarinet, trying to treat each instrument as his primary focus. By his senior year in high school, he was playing in two orchestras, a nationally competitive classical saxophone quartet, three big bands, two jazz small groups, a symphonic band, a woodwind sextet, and many musical pit orchestras in addition to private lessons. This foundation allowed Josh to become extremely versatile at a high level starting from a young age.”
Jonah Smith — “Jonah Smith is a critically acclaimed American artist. He has released several records and has performed around the world at places like Bonnaroo, BAM Festival in Barcelona, The Bowery Ballroom in NYC, Ronnie Scotts in London, SXSW, and countless others. He was a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent, where he received a standing ovation from Howard Stern. He went on to perform four times on national television from Radio City Music Hall wowing the judges and audiences with his big soulful voice and considerable keyboard chops.”
Shawn Pyngrope, Prince Nepali & Mark Donald — Nepali folk/jazz fusion, played by sarangi (Nepali traditional bowed instrument), electric bass, and drums.
Ajitabh Ranjan — “Ajitabh is an IITian turned Singer/Composer/Lyricist. He is an NRI settled in Boston/USA. “My Name is Ajitabh” is his much awaited debut album. He has not only sung all the songs but has also directed the music and written all of the songs himself. This album has a wide variety and it encompasses modern as well as the old trends of the indi-pop genre. And yet this album can truly be said to be a trend in itself. Some of the songs (e.g. “Manchahe raste per”) can indeed be said to be path breaking. For this album, Ajitabh has composed the tunes from both inside and outside of Hinduatani classical ragas. For example, the song “Manchahe raste per” is based on the raga “Nayaki Kanada”.
Jacinta Clusellas — “Jacinta Clusellas is a composer, singer-songwriter and guitarist based in New York City. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jacinta brings together South American folklore, jazz and chamber music, in the context of songs influenced by poems, literature and nature from South America. “
Ben Cohen — “As a producer, songwriter and composer of extraordinary creativity and breadth, Ben Cohen is highly sought after for his considerable musical talents. The talented vocalists whose music Ben produces find in him a rare gift for collaborative partnership, an ear for the unique qualities of their voice and music, and utter joy in the work itself. “
3:00:00 — 3:15:00: Segment 8
Yundu Wang — “Yundu Wang is a Chinese-American classical pianist currently based in Boston, MA. An established soloist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician, Yundu has performed widely throughout the U.K., U.S., and Europe. Her deep interest in communication in both music and language led her to pursue doctoral research on the relationship between musical expression and speech prosody in London, U.K. Now returned to the U.S., Yundu is committed to sharing her research and intercultural experiences through teaching, collaborating, and performing.
An avid chamber musician and collaborator, Yundu has toured throughout the U.K., Germany, and Belgium in piano trios, piano quartets, and duo projects with violin. While on her U.K. tour with violinist Savitri Grier, Yundu gave a masterclass as a guest artist at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Her most recent collaborations include an augmented reality concert with Christine Lamprea (Longy School of Music of Bard College) and a debut album with Audrey Wright (Associate Concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), set to be released in early 2022.”
Vijaya Sundaram — “A native of India, Vijaya Sundaram has lived in the Boston, Massachusetts, area for the past 25 years. She is a singer-song-writer, guitarist, poet and writer who spent seventeen years as an 8th Grade English teacher at a local public school. Only recently feeling the urge to publish, she’s been sending out her work to various literary magazines. Vijaya has been published in literary magazines Calliope and The Phoenix Rising Review.”
Max Fletcher — “Self-taught until attending the New England Conservatory, Max began with the electric guitar at age 10, playing jazz, blues, and metal before switching to classical music at 14. Max is also deeply interested in writing music, and studies Composition under Stratis Minakakis.
Max has performed internationally in numerous masterclasses for esteemed guitarists such as Eliot Fisk, Leo Brouwer, Eduardo Fernandez, Jorge Caballero, Jesus Serrano, Grisha Goryachev, Zaira Meneses, Enrique Salmeron, and Senio Diaz, and received a Superior rating at the 2016 San Jose Guitar Festival. In 2017 Max attended the Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg and performed in Tuscany, Italy. Actively interested in the avant-garde, Max aims to expand the role of the classical guitar in contemporary classical composition, free music, and other 21st century practices.”
3:15:00 — 3:30:00: Segment 9:
Isaac Taylor — “To know of the storied musical lineage of Isaac Taylor, and to hear his thoughtful, angelic voice, you would think being a musician would be an obvious calling for the Martha's Vineyard native. But it wasn’t that simple. Instead, he took a winding path ultimately leading him to the recording of his debut record, a folky and timely Americana collection of eleven songs called Peace in the Valley. "Music's always been my taproot," Taylor says, referring to that one strong root that moves straight down, deepest into the earth, and from which all other roots spring. “It’s how I find my center, like a column I can steady myself with when there’s chaos around me.”
With the help of his high school friends, Andrew and Brad Barr of the indie rock group the Barr Brothers, they recorded in a 1926 music hall The Columbus Theater in Provincetown, Rhode Island, a place with its own story to tell. They captured a unifying spirit during the recordings that were passed on to producer Ryan Freeland (Bonnie Raitt, Ray LaMontagne and the Barr Brothers, among many others) to mix and finalize the music.”
John Allison — Some fine guitar playing from the son of Mose Allison.
The Flower Pistils — “The Flower Pistils are a music group consisting of multi-instrumentalists Micah Huang and Emma Gies. Our mission is simple: To create music that is honest and untainted by the self-righteous, self-destructive mores of today’s hyper-curated, digitally mediated culture.
For us, music is about the art of creation, the craft of refining, and the lifelong quest to discover and express the intuitive and emotional truths that define our inner lives. This is an interactive process that we and out listeners go through together. It is a spiritually motivated pursuit, aimed at inner harmony rather than material gain.”
Roger Aldridge — “Roger Aldridge is primarily a jazz composer. A wide range of styles are found in his music along with a quirky sense of humor and a lyrical expression.”
3:30:00 — 3:45:00: Segment 10:
3:45:00 — 4:00:00: Segment 11
Music and the Fight to Save The Sundarbans Mangrove Forests
Dr. Elja Roy— “Elja Roy is an Assistant Professor of Film in the Department of Communication and Film at the University of Memphis. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Minnesota in summer 2021. Elja finished her master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta. Her research brings production-based case studies to explores the intersection of environmental communication and ecocinema. She has conducted field research in the Pacific North-West, Minnesota, Illinois, India, and Bangladesh. Her doctoral dissertation, “Art, Activism and Sundarbans: A case study of Ecomusical Environmental Movement through Film” is half-written and half a documentary film, “Musical Mangrove.” It examines an artistic environmental movement involving multicultural ethnic groups and minorities in the Global South through community-based co-productions. Currently, Elja is working on the postproduction of a documentary film and pre-production of a narrative film. Roy also taught Video Production at the University of Minnesota and Critical Media Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota.”
4:00:00 — 4:15:00: Segment 12
Yasmine Azaiez — “Yasmine Azaiez (born 16 October 1988) is a British-born violinist of Tunisian descent. She currently resides in Tunisia. Yasmine has performed at well-known venues with well-known orchestras and musicians around the world. Notable sites include the Royal Albert Hall with Evgeny Kissin, The Merchant Taylors Hall alongside Sarah Chang, and the Sheldonian Theatre with Andras Schiff. In each of the aforesaid venues she played as a classical violinist. The Westminster Philharmonic, the Lebanese Symphony Orchestra, and the ‘ Balle de Vienne’ Orchestra have also featured her as a soloist in their concerts. Her work as an improviser has allowed her to collaborate with other globally recognized artists. She has played with Naseer Shamma at the Cairo Opera House, Joe Morris at the Bimhuis, Quai de Branly in Paris, an dKinan Azmeh at the Royal Opera House in Muscat, as well as with Ramy Ayach, Agusti Fernandez, Rami Khalifa, Anthony Coleman, and has toured extensively with World Championship Accordionist and fellow New England Conservatory alum, Cory Pesaturo. “
Hamid Drake — “Hamid Drake (born August 3, 1955) is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. By the close of the 1990s, Hamid Drake was widely regarded as one of the best percussionists in jazz and improvised music. Incorporating Afro-Cuban, Indian, and African percussion instruments and influence, in addition to using the standard trap set, Drake has collaborated extensively with top free jazz improvisers. Drake also has performed world music; by the late 1970s, he was a member of Foday Musa Suso's Mandingo Griot Society[1] and has played reggae throughout his career.[2] Drake has worked with trumpeter Don Cherry, pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Fred Anderson, Archie Shepp and David Murray and bassists Reggie Workman and William Parker (in many lineups).”
Tetseo Sisters — “The Tetseo Sisters Mütsevelü (Mercy), Azine (Azi), Kuvelü (Kuku) and Alüne (Lulu) grew up in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, and belong to the Chakhesang Naga tribe, one of the major Naga tribes. They sing in Chokri, the dialect of the region around Phek.[2] From early days, their parents acquainted the girls with Li, the traditional songs of their home region. They first performed as a group in 1994 and have been making regular appearances since 2000 at the Hornbill festival, Nagaland's biggest annual cultural event, and at several other festivals and events. Growing popularity made them enlarge their radius, performing all over Nagaland, the Seven Sister States, and other Indian states. During Mercy and Azi's period of study, they made numerous appearances as a duo in New Delhi; while Kuku and Lulu carried on in Kohima.”
4:15:00 — 4:45:00: Segment 13:
Bob Horan — “Bob Horan’s musical career began at age 3, on a subway platform in Manhattan when he belted out on a toy bugle a perfect rendition of Anchors Away for two drunken sailors. He took up guitar in high school and found he had a knack for it. Influenced in the ‘50s by Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and then the Kingston Trio, he started hanging around folk clubs in Greenwich Village in the early ‘60’s. The Village was a hotbed of social consciousness and young musicians perfecting their craft– Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Jack Elliot, Dave Van Ronk, Arlo Guthrie, John Denver, the Lovin Spoonful, Jose Feliciano and, of course, Bob Dylan. Horan became part of the scene, playing in Washington Square Park for free on Sunday afternoons, and at folk clubs like Gerde’s Folk City as the ‘60s culture flourished around him. By 1966, Horan was playing regular gigs at The Back Fence, in the hub of Greenwich Village activity.”
Pete Seeger — “Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly's "Goodnight, Irene", which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. Members of the Weavers were blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. In the 1960s, Seeger re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture, workers' rights, and environmental causes.”
Interview with Warren Senders (me!) — a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the work that went into the M4CJ project.
4:45:00 — 5:00:00:
THE CREDITS
(honestly, you should stick around and watch the credits. They’re awesome)
