Year of Graduation
2023
Level of Access
Restricted Access Thesis
Embargo Period
5-18-2023
Department or Program
Music
First Advisor
Vineet Shende
Abstract
This three-movement composition, written for SATB choir, soprano and baritone soloists, flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, violin, and cello, uses music to explore the expected temperature driven changes in New England bird species populations. After a 3 degree Celsius increase in average global temperatures, the geographical ranges of many bird species are expected to shift, resulting in many species becoming locally extinct in New England. In this work, much of the musical material is derived from the birdsongs of several local species, including the American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, and Mourning Dove. Each of these birdsong motifs are used less and less frequently through the three movements according to how severely their geographical ranges are expected to be affected by the changes in temperature. This shift is also reflected in the overarching structure of the piece, which moves through the day-to-night cycle with the most birds active in “Dawn,” then the next for “Midday,” and the fewest for “Dusk.”
Restricted
Available only to users on the Bowdoin campus.