PRESS ALBUM ART
The Environmental Music of Christopher Kaufman
Featuring:
• MUSIC FROM EARTH: with soundtrack crafted from hundreds of natural and orchestral sounds, video comprised of natural images and the professionally recorded performances of world-class saxophonist Chad Smith. Containing a Powerful Environmental Message, Music From Earth was premiered originally by Demetrius Spans in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on his world tour.
• HUDSON VALLEY MUSIC: with soundtrack crafted from hundreds of natural and orchestral sounds, video comprised of natural images and the art of environmental artist Ken-Cro-Ken, performances by Quintet Of The Americas and readings by Kaufman from John Muir, Chief Seattle and phrases from famous poets. Originally commissioned by Quintet Of The Americas, Kaufman has redesigned HVM for soloists, various ensembles and full orchestra.
A FREE ‘The Making Of Hudson Valley Music’ video is included
• and now including OCEAN : Composed in response to the BP Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico… where creatures are still dying, Ocean tells a story. Imagine you are a whale father or mother swimming peacefully in mildly turbulent waters… then you encounter a deadly swath of oily water and watch your child drown while you are unable to help her. There are many aspects to this piece, and moments of arrival and beauty…It ends with an emotional scream meant to make people feel the reality of what is happening to creatures there…creatures as intelligent as we are and who have an even much larger part of their brains dedicated to emotion.
There are many reasoned arguments concerning environmental preservation. But we must also make people feel it…and this is something the arts can address.
In OCEAN I took the whale-song and turned it into thematic content. OCEAN begins with the depiction of a seascape – somewhat turbulent, very passionate – with waves crashing on the shore. In the latter section, ‘Oil in the Water’, the music expresses outrage at what we are doing to our oceans. This music deals with the conditions and issues of our time in a direct and timely way. The expressive ending sounds an appeal to the audience as if the musicians are channeling the message of the great intelligent creatures of our magnificent oceans.
