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Creating Music for FIRE/LAND

paul godwin & miguel noya, composers, dogon
Paul Godwin & Miguel Noya (Dogon)

Music for FIRE/LAND: Knowing the Territory has been a huge part of the creation process for this "Art Rock Opera for the Forest." We began with a gorgeous and somewhat somber composition that came about in 2018 when Miguel Noya, the Venezuelan electronic composer attended our artist residency at Talking Tree Ranch in Placerville. The composition is routed in a repeating piano pattern nested rhythmically in the key of C# minor. There is an interwoven melody taken up by piano, then violin and finally a synthesizer enters with a counter theme -  swirling, gorgeously rising with an inherent longing and perhaps, sadness. The piece was not released until now, when it found a home in the opening FIRE/LAND Overture – recast as “Whichever Way the Wind Blows.” The piano ostinato will return again as a foundation for “A Moral Dilemma” and then “We All Play a Part” as our Finale. 

How does one create music for an “art rock opera for the forest”?  Another inspiration were the words adapted by Ameera Godwin as she explored the history of forest practices in the American West.  As Ameera quoted the words of John Muir “I never saw a discontented tree…” I found the melodic and rhythmic propulsion for the Bjork-influenced “Discontented Tree.” The piece becomes a showpiece for Gavin Sellers’ choreography with the muscular live interpretation by Main Street Collective featuring Jonathan Punturo’s percussion work.  It will be exciting for me to portray John Muir as I sing the lead vocal onstage and the band supports. 

Beginning in 2016, I was fortunate to have begun working with classical violinist Robin Mayforth who serves as concertmaster for Symphony San Jose. She and I created a series in Pacifica, CA called The Healing Concert in which we hosted a talented group of Coastside players to experience meditation and audience participation during our live concerts. We performed pieces by Philip Glass, Arvo Pårt, Yes, and Bach, as well as originals. Robin will join us here in El Dorado County for the first time to perform with Main Street Collective as a featured player in FIRE/LAND. 

Main Street Collective is grounded by the expert guitar work of Cameron Park resident Aron Faria. In FIRE/LAND, Aron is also a composer for “The Big Burn.”  This intense, incendiary segment features the amazing video art impression of wildfire by Ameera Godwin – Aron’s progressive rock composition is passionate, complex and disturbing – reminiscent of King Crimson or Steve Hackett perhaps. 

Act 3 of FIRE/LAND features the piece, “The Seer & The Seed.” Here the text is by Svante Arhennius, a 19th century scientist who calculate global warming as early as 1895. Miguel Noya’s piano pattern prepares for Aron Faria’s passionate, flamenco style strumming as we transition to an operatic aria by soprano, Caitlyn Miller. Arpeggiated patterns by cellist John Sellers and saxophonist Charlie Baldwin build to a choral theme sung as “Fire on the Land,” as the concept of controlled burning is introduced, aligned with holistic Native American cultural burning practices – toward our adoption of resilient strategies. 

                                                                                   - Paul Godwin, 

                                                                                        Composer, Co-founder Myrtle Tree Arts, Bandleader, Main St. Collective

 


FIRE/LAND

An Experience Inspiring Community Resilience

Saturday, June 10th, 2023, 4PM - 10PM

Wakamatsu Farm, 941 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA 95667


A project of Myrtle Tree Arts and co-hosted by the American River Conservancy, this unique "art rock opera for the forest" and public forum will happen at the landmark Wakamatsu Farm. During the speaker forum in the late afternoon, local experts and representatives will share community issues related to wildfire, land stewardship, emergency preparedness, cultural preservation, and forest ecology. The evening features Main Street Collective's Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary concert followed by FIRE/LAND: Knowing the Territory, a musical and dramatic performance starring musicians, singers, Native American storyteller, and video projections in a creative exploration of wildfire, ecological change, and resilience in El Dorado County. This intellectual and creative experience strives to spark inspiration and your call to action in support of community resilience! 
See more details on the Myrtle Tree Arts Fire/Land page.


FIRE/LAND: The Exhibition

SWITCHBOARD GALLERY

Arts and Culture El Dorado 

525 Main St. Placerville, CA

June 8 - August 6, 2023

Experience this installation of Ameera Godwin's digital prints and video from FIRE/LAND.

 

Artist Talk, July 13th, 6pm 

 

 

FIRE/LAND is made possible with support from:

The Latrobe Fund, Sacramento Region Community Foundation,
Pure Life/Sacred Roots, in partnership with the
American River Conservancy and Arts and Culture El Dorado

 


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