Introduction
In the winter of 1984-1985, nearly 3,000 whales were found trapped
in the Senyavina Straight of Siberia. With the bitter cold,
the water was freezing rapidly... In this work, award-winning
musician and author Steve Schuch has taken the inspiration of
a real life event - the musical rescue of these trapped whales
- and conjured a truly memorable tale. For
more history on this real life event, visit an Author's
Interview.
A Solo
Performance or Workshop Like
a symphony, Humpback whale songs last 20-30 minutes. In their haunting
complexity, we humans glimpse the eons of whale evolution.
Learn about whales, their songs and encounters with
humans. Listen to a true tale of arctic rescue and an Eskimo legend
of the sea. Enter the underwater world of darkness and cold. Experience
communication within a whale pod, and hear Steve Schuch's unforgettable
"Whale Trilogy (.mp3)," a solo violin piece played with
these mysterious songs of the deep.
This program includes material from Steve's travels,
CD's, and book, A Symphony of Whales. Combining natural history
and riveting performance, it makes a magical experience for young
and old alike. Music selections and science content are varied to
suit the audience and venue.
Program options include Adult and Family Concerts,
Workshops, Author Visits and School Assemblies. See also An Author's
Interview. For information about our workshops, visit our Workshops
page. For additional performances, visit our Performance
page.
A
Children's Book Story by Steve Schuch, Illustrations by Peter
Sylvada
"A truly beautiful story."
-Family Life
Ever since Glashka could remember, she had heard
music inside her head. The old ones in her village said it was the
singing of Narna, the whale....
One day Glashka discovers thousands of whales trapped
in an inlet. The narrow route to the sea is rapidly icing over.
Every day ice covers more of the open water the whales need to breathe.
This story tells of a dramatic rescue. It's a tale of bravery, and
faith and music. It's based on an actual event, and Steve's haunting
piece for violin and whales, "Whale
Trilogy (.mp3) ." For more about this astonishing whale
rescue, visit An Author's Interview.
For more information about books, visit our storybooks
and poetry page.
A
New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, A
Parents' Choice Honor Book and Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children.
$16, order by mail | order
on-line.
A
Multimedia Orchestral Production
In the winter of 1984-1985, nearly 3,000
whales were found trapped in the Senyavina Straight of Siberia. With
the bitter cold, the water was freezing rapidly...
In this work, award-winning musician and author Steve
Schuch has taken the inspiration of a real life event - the musical
rescue of these trapped whales - and conjured a truly memorable
tale. The accompanying music has been featured on cable networks,
'Morning Pro Musica,' and NPR's 'Performance Today.' Orchestral
productions can be performed with a full orchestra, or a string
chamber. For sound clips and more information, visit our Orchestra
page.
(Kid's artwork inspired by "A Symphony
of Whales")