Cellist Adam Hall performs For the Birds

When I composed For the Birds, I did not realize the terrible number of birds dying due to habitat destruction, building hits and climate change. In the years since, the problem has further worsened.  I wanted to remind us of the extraordinary beauty and variety of birdsong, in this case of the Yellowstone Region, a favorite locale of cellist Madeleine Shapiro who commissioned the piece and recorded it on her “Sounds Nature” CD. Joining of the voices of the birds to those of the cello speaks to the transformative power of music, and remind us of the intertwining of our lives with those of the animals we live among. I am grateful to naturalist Kevin Colver who kindly shared his excellent recordings as source material.