Bird songs have captivated composers ranging from Respighi to Messiaen, and they served as the inspiration for Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams' Ten Thousand Birds. The work was featured in this weekend's closing concert of the Rite of Summer Music Festival, and this Saturday (9/18 at 7 pm) on A Tempo, host Rachel Katz speaks with Luther about his compositions, which are largely inspired by nature, and also with Rite of Summer Artistic Directors Pam Goldberg and Blair McMillan.
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Top photo: Alarm Will Sound performs Ten Thousand Birds at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (photo by Alan Pierson)
Bottom photo: Composer John Luther Adams in his Mexico studio (photo by Cynthia Adams)