Charles Darwin's Origin of Species is not only one of the most important scientific works of all time, but one of the most beautifully written. In The Origin Cycle, eight contemporary composers set fragments of Darwin's great book to music, for performance by solo soprano and chamber ensemble.

The passages chosen encompass the entire work, capturing the many facets of a Darwinian view of nature, and summarizing what Darwin called the "one long argument" contained in the Origin. They include his most famous and enduring images – the growing "tree of life" connecting all species, the vision of nature as an surface into which wedges are unceasingly struck, and the book's final invocation of "grandeur in this view of life." (Read the full libretto and program notes)

The works were commissioned by Jane Sheldon and Peter Godfrey-Smith and funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

The Origin Cycle The Face of Nature Hourly Scrutinising   Tree of Life Comparing the Eye to a Telescope Economy of Wax A History Imperfectly Kept Entangled Bank Floreana

Elliott Gyger Kate Neal Elena Kats-Chernin Barry Conyngham Nicholas Vines Dan Walker Paul Stanhope Rosalind Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performances

Harvard University

Firebird Ensemble with Jane Sheldon, soprano, and Jeffrey Means, conductor

Tuesday April 28, 2009

Museum of Natural History, Harvard University – Press 1, 2,  Photo 1, 2,   Firebird Ensemble

 

Stanford University

Firebird Ensemble with Jane Sheldon, soprano, and Jeffrey Means, conductor

Thursday October 8, 2009, 8:00pm

Campbell Recital Hall, Braun Music Center, Stanford University. Link, Photo 1

 

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

October 17, 2009

 

Australian National University

Ensemble Offspring with Jane Sheldon, soprano, and Roland Peelman, conductor

Friday November 13, 2009, 7:30pm

Peter Karmel Building, Childers St, Australian National University

Admission free

 

Australian Museum

Ensemble Offspring with Jane Sheldon, soprano, and Roland Peelman, conductor

Thursday November 19, 2009, 7:00pm

Australian Museum, Sydney, (William St entry)

Admission $20 ($12 concession), book on (02) 8256 2222. Link

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With thanks: