The Music of Paul Winter

After 7 years of field research and recording in 16 countries, the Great Rift Valley Orchestra will finally premiere the music of their Flyways adventure, March 16 and 17, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. The music will be performed by the new international ensemble featuring musicians from several of these countries. Paul will receive the John James Audubon Center Award for Art Inspiring Conservation.

In 1991 in Tela Viv Paul Winter met Yossi Leshem and over the years they have collaborated. Yossi was concerned abut the storks, steppe eagles, pelicans, and other species that fly over Israel. Yossi became renowned in Israel for finding ways to stop the collision of air-force jets with migrating birds. He convinced the air force to fund a radar station at Ben Gurion airport, which he staffed with volunteers from the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. From his studies he had good information on the 350 migrating species and the approximate times of their arrival, so with his guidance the volunteers were able to monitor their passages with the radar and then beam the air force to keep their jets out of particular areas and altitudes during those times. This plan succeeded in cutting plane/bird crashes by 74%.

At any rate that was the impetus for planning and executing the Flyways music project which recorded music of some of the 53 tribes in that area, and then going on to Kenya. The motto of the Flyways project is: "migrating birds know no borders." Beneath this overarching aerial highway live millions of people of diverse races and cultures. The flyway embraces all of these cultures, and the project aims to harness the timeless languages of birds and music with the goal of bringing people together in common cause across borders and cultures.

Tickets for these concerts are on sale now. Besides the concert that will be a fund raising reception.

Friends of Flyways Reception

On Saturday evening, March 17, prior to the Saturday evening performance of Flyways, there will be a "Friends of Flyways" reception at 6 pm at Cathedral House, adjacent to the Cathedral. It will feature hors d'ouervres, music by some of the international flyways musicians, and commentaries by collaborators in the project. For sponsorship tickets and admittance to the reception, please call Music for the Earth at 860-567-8797 for further information.

This lens was chosen by vote to receive 3rd place in the --- contest in the Christmas Music category - click here to check out all of the winning lenses.