It is December 21st, 2006, the longest day of the year on the overgrown sand-dunes of Saint Lucia, South Africa. Today, in the triple-canopy broadleaf rainforest on the coast of the Indian Ocean, the sun rises at 4:19 a.m. In order to capture a surround-sound recording of the coming “dawn chorus” of birdsong, our party must be up and in position by 3:45 a.m. Fortunately, African Wood-Owls sound off noisily in our camp before we can over-sleep our alarms. Then, beginning at 4:15 a.m., the drama of sounds unfurls around us. This piece is a collaborative project between Edie Hill and field ornithologist and clarinetist Andrew Lamy. 

Co-created by Andrew Lamy and Edie Hill under the auspices of the McKnight Foundation
Premiered: February 2006
Full Recording and Information Available: mixedflockorchestra.net