This program celebrates the beauty, humor, and spiritual significance of the natural world, especially animals, birds, and insects. Inspired by Wendell Berry’s poem The Peace of Wild Things and the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, it highlights nature as a source of peace, healing, and reflection.
The repertoire spans centuries, from Renaissance works to contemporary compositions, exploring both reverence and playfulness in nature. Pieces by composers such as Dan Forrest, Paul Hindemith, and Rachel Fuller reflect on animals as symbols of serenity, love, and loss, including Animal Requiem, which honors beloved pets.
The program also embraces humor and whimsy, most notably in Eric Whitacre’s Animal Crackers, which sets witty poems to music, alongside other playful works that imitate animal sounds and antics.
Overall, the concert invites listeners to find meaning, joy, and peace through a deeper connection with the natural world.