Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin
The coming performances of ‘When Birds Take Flight’ will take audiences on a poetic and musical journey that symbolises the migratory path of birds between Denmark and Siberia.
The musical collaboration for voice and instruments has been created by composer/lyricist Louise McKenna and poet and spoken word performer, Jen Fraser, and takes the form of a story-song cycle.
The 11 songs in the cycle honours the migratory shorebirds that make a perilous flight from Djerrt Mia (the Denmark Bird Sanctuary) to Siberia and tracks their journey across land, sea and skies.
Jen said inspiration for the performance had come from Louise who had always had a fascination with the fate of migratory birds in the present day.
“The life of migratory birds often also reflects how we, as humans, are on journeys,” Jen said.
“Some of us experience migratory journeys as well so there’s that whole sense of leaving home and finding a safe place but also there’s that sense of having somewhere to return to.”
Louise’s compositions for this performance incorporate a blend of contemporary, jazz and classical harmonies and will be accompanied by musicians Grant Moulden, Sam Reeves and Nola Formentin.
Vocal accompaniment will be by the Woven Women’s Ensemble with a group of students from the Kwoorabup Nature School joining them on stage for the finale. Performances will be held at the Golden Hill Steiner School hall on February 24 at 5pm and at Scots Church in Albany on February 25 at 4pm.
Tickets available on TryBooking.
This article appeared in Denmark Bulletin, 22 February 2024.
