Eco-Music - Music to Entertain or Music to Move People to Action?
In April, my musicians will provide choral music for a Science Symposium, performing immediately before and after the key note address given by Dr. Robert Max Holmes, Deputy Director and Senior Scientist at Woods Hole Research Center.
Of course, when approached, the organizers thought "how nice it would be to have a little entertainment." However, my counter proposal was that the music should serve just like music for a service, dovetailing the message and engaging people emotionally. It would prepare the listeners for the message to be heard and then incite people to action after the message was heard.
The resulting conversation became a confession. One of the scientists putting the symposium together said, "I've been a scientist for so many years, lecturing with facts and statistics, but people aren't hearing and it is critical that they hear. But I am tired of people not hearing. I know I have to do more."
Yes. Facts do not reach people but stories can, music can. Religions have understood for millennia that music and stories are powerful media for getting a message across. You have to engage the heart in order to engage action.
J. David Moore has two pieces we will use for this event:
- We belong to the earth
With words attributed to Chief Seattle, but are from a script for a 1970s documentary.
- Earth Blessing with words by Dr. Jack Munno, recording here.