Vanishing Corals
For violin and violoncello
Winner of the 4th Lawson-May Award for Composition 2024
Human caused climate change is affecting our oceans in drastic ways. This work focuses on the highly vulnerable coral reefs within our ocean waters. As ocean temperatures continue to drastically rise, corals are forced to let go of their symbiotic algae partners, which gives them their mesmerizing color, and turn white, this is what's known as coral bleaching. Without their symbiotic friends, the corals go hungry and the longer the warm temperature lasts, the greater chance they die. It is estimated that over the last thirty years around fifty percent of the coral reefs have perished. If coral reefs become extinct, they could take with them species numbering in the millions.
I imagined this work through the eyes of a professional diver as they embark on a journey to observe coral reefs. The sounds of ocean waves encompass the listener like they would a diver, before descending to the depth of the ocean. The dive down is not without its challenges and anxieties. When we finally arrive to the coral reef, we find that it had bleached and has ultimately perished. The mournful middle section laments this unfortunate death. Our diver ascents with much frustration in their heart, ready to leash their anger and lament out into the world. The work ends where it began, with the sounds of ocean waves embracing our ears.
By humanizing and dramatizing the effect of coral reef bleaching and their eventual death through my music, my goal is to bring awareness to this very important topic. By stirring with the listener’s emotions, my goal is to awaken the listener’s desire for climate activism as well as bring out their nurturing qualities for our planet.
Duration: 9 minutes
For violin and violoncello
Winner of the 4th Lawson-May Award for Composition 2024
Human caused climate change is affecting our oceans in drastic ways. This work focuses on the highly vulnerable coral reefs within our ocean waters. As ocean temperatures continue to drastically rise, corals are forced to let go of their symbiotic algae partners, which gives them their mesmerizing color, and turn white, this is what's known as coral bleaching. Without their symbiotic friends, the corals go hungry and the longer the warm temperature lasts, the greater chance they die. It is estimated that over the last thirty years around fifty percent of the coral reefs have perished. If coral reefs become extinct, they could take with them species numbering in the millions.
I imagined this work through the eyes of a professional diver as they embark on a journey to observe coral reefs. The sounds of ocean waves encompass the listener like they would a diver, before descending to the depth of the ocean. The dive down is not without its challenges and anxieties. When we finally arrive to the coral reef, we find that it had bleached and has ultimately perished. The mournful middle section laments this unfortunate death. Our diver ascents with much frustration in their heart, ready to leash their anger and lament out into the world. The work ends where it began, with the sounds of ocean waves embracing our ears.
By humanizing and dramatizing the effect of coral reef bleaching and their eventual death through my music, my goal is to bring awareness to this very important topic. By stirring with the listener’s emotions, my goal is to awaken the listener’s desire for climate activism as well as bring out their nurturing qualities for our planet.
Duration: 9 minutes
For violin and violoncello
Winner of the 4th Lawson-May Award for Composition 2024
Human caused climate change is affecting our oceans in drastic ways. This work focuses on the highly vulnerable coral reefs within our ocean waters. As ocean temperatures continue to drastically rise, corals are forced to let go of their symbiotic algae partners, which gives them their mesmerizing color, and turn white, this is what's known as coral bleaching. Without their symbiotic friends, the corals go hungry and the longer the warm temperature lasts, the greater chance they die. It is estimated that over the last thirty years around fifty percent of the coral reefs have perished. If coral reefs become extinct, they could take with them species numbering in the millions.
I imagined this work through the eyes of a professional diver as they embark on a journey to observe coral reefs. The sounds of ocean waves encompass the listener like they would a diver, before descending to the depth of the ocean. The dive down is not without its challenges and anxieties. When we finally arrive to the coral reef, we find that it had bleached and has ultimately perished. The mournful middle section laments this unfortunate death. Our diver ascents with much frustration in their heart, ready to leash their anger and lament out into the world. The work ends where it began, with the sounds of ocean waves embracing our ears.
By humanizing and dramatizing the effect of coral reef bleaching and their eventual death through my music, my goal is to bring awareness to this very important topic. By stirring with the listener’s emotions, my goal is to awaken the listener’s desire for climate activism as well as bring out their nurturing qualities for our planet.
Duration: 9 minutes