The Strad: Earth Day with ecofeminism: exploring nature-inspired works by women composers
In this Earth Day reflection, Darrian Lee examines musical repertoire by three living women composers, whose works intertwine environmental advocacy, womanhood, and contemporary classical music
“All the composers are worth exploring, performing, and listening to because of this. However, for the purpose of Earth Day, I have selected three composers from my research that I think clearly elucidate an ecofeminist perspective through their work. While I focused on violin works during my treatise, I will be discussing composers that have a variety of instrumentations that speak to the purpose of Earth Day.
Vivian Fung
Vivian Fung is a Juno award winning Canadian composer, currently based in California, whose work embodies the purpose of Earth Day. Her music reflects a consistent use of nature themes, many being focused on advocating for action towards the climate crisis.
The most unique instrumentation that speaks to the climate crisis is her piece, The Ice is Talking, which is where Fung composed music to be performed by a percussionist on an actual block of ice with a blade. During the interview with Fung, she discussed growing up in the Canadian province of Alberta and how nature has become a metaphor by which she expresses her emotions in her music.”