Composers respond to the rosetta stone language of the egrets
The egret photographs, valued as a fragment of nature's planetary rosetta stone, are responded to by three composers using the language of music to explore the physical-glyph-symbolic language of the egret. Egrets are creatures of earth, water, air and reflections. The egret studies reflections and seems to engage and, to varying degrees, live in the reflected world, as if it is a part of consciousness and "the Present". To better understand the egret, it is of value to look into the reflected world in which the egret lives.
Oulipo, by Joan Jeanrenaud, is a music that invites thoughts and feelings to float in a reflected world, allowing the projected photographs of the egrets to touch, move, discourse with and dance with the human psyche and the human heart.
Trance Orpheus ~ A line of Light, by a 12th Century anonymous composer and by soprano Adria singing poem-lyrics "A Line Of Light" by Gerry Traucht, transports the listener to the world of the egret through the influence of the music and Adria's voice melded with and musically lime-lighted by the classical flute of Diane Grubbe.
Palace of Birds, by Jim Alexander, is an experience like the magical reality of Bali surrounded by wind-like chimes, created by thumb piano, until the birds are the reality. The dreamer becomes the dream and the egret is allowed to visually speak.
Egrets With Us, by Douglas McKeehan, samples the voices of egrets. The egrets form the vocals and rhythm tracks in the first movement of a ballet, that explores the egret on five continents, weaving folklore of many nationalities with our larger planetary drama. It is a type of Swan Lake crossed with ethnic dance and visual poetry devoted to the egret.
The story of the egret observes the story of our humanity and our stewardship of the earth's ecosystem in a tapestry of light and dark, and luminous celebrations. The egret is a symbol of Peace. The McKeehan ballet, taking its inspiration from the photographs, suggests that the story of the egret contains our future.
The egret is presently entering urban settings around the world. It seems the cities and villages that are welcoming the egret and sharing with it are prospering, with the romance of a palace of birds as the egrets are with us on a great journey.