The Channel Islands Orchestral Suite
Off the coast of southern California is an archipelago known as The Channel Islands. Endearingly referred to as “The Galapagos of North America,” it is made up of eight islands spanning just north of Santa Barbara down to San Diego. Each island is currently owned or operated by The National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and/or the Navy. For 13,000 years, Native Americans made many of these islands their home until their displacement by Europeans between the 1500s-1800s. Following this, the archipelago’s natural resources and fragile ecosystem were heavily impacted by the efforts of agricultural production during the Western American ranching era. Now, conservation is a priority on most islands where many species of plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world.
In December of 2016 I began the Channel Islands Orchestral Suite project. Each trip to a Channel Island followed the same model: research of its history and unique features, jotting down of musical themes and thoughts while on the island, and developing the rest of the movement at home. By writing and performing this suite, I hope to raise awareness and appreciation for the natural and cultural resources these islands embody. The world premiere occurred in October of 2019. A studio recording is scheduled for February 2022.
Santa Cruz Island is large and diverse. The full chamber orchestra with brass was incorporated, creating a loud, powerful piece with themes inspired by Chumash ceremony.
The wind, isolation, and story of the lone woman are the inspiration for the San Nicolas movement. Over a tumultuous base of strings and woodwinds, a single soprano voice carries the melody thought to have been the lone woman's song recorded on wax cylinder in 1913.
Anacapa Island is one of the most iconic and visited islands. The cheerful melody is played by a string quartet with two french horn which contribute to the foghorn ambience.
Santa Barbara Island has been declared an "Important Bird Area" (IBA) by the National Audubon Society. After researching the resident birds and their calls, I wove parts of their songs into a woodwind, percussion, and marimba ensemble.
The San Miguel movement begins with a light, giddy mood and finishes on a more serious tone, mirroring the experience of ranching families that lived on the island in the 1800s and 1900s.
Santa Rosa Island is slowly recovering from destructive cattle grazing. As the second largest island, the instrumentation includes the whole chamber orchestra. The brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion weave melodies and counterpoint depicting the various canyons that harbor biodiversity on the island.