Recordings from Longy's final Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute benefit concert series in Pickman Hall.

Leanne Estabrook - Soprano
Nicholas Brewer - Piano

V Heart, We Will Forget Him - Aaron Copland - 12 Poems Of Emily Dickinson

Recordings from Longy's final Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute benefit concert series in Pickman Hall.

Nicholas Brewer - Piano

Debussy - Children's Corner - III. Serenade for the Doll

Debussy - Children's Corner - I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum

Britten - Holiday Diary, Op. 5 - I. Early Morning Bathe

Britten - Holiday Diary, Op. 5 - II. Sailing

Mendelssohn - Fantasy in F Sharp Minor, Op. 28 - Mov I

Scarlatti - Sonata in E Major, K380

Scarlatti - Sonata in F Minor, K481

A free improvisation piece by Nicholas Brewer, performed by Nicholas Brewer, piano; Anthony Leva, bass; Jonathan Shin, piano; and Richardson Smith, guitar on February 19th, 2017 Longy School of Music New Music Marathon.

In Pursuit Of Mood

We all have rituals of comfort. Whether it be eating warm lasagna, or taking a bubble bath, or watching your favorite movie, or drinking your morning cup of coffee, we all have them. How often do we contemplate what goes into creating the things that give us the most pleasure, the things that we cherish? Almost every morning I make a cappuccino with my personal espresso machine. It's a wonderful ritual that I take pride in having refined through years of practice, as well as in the savings I reap from savoring this flourish of a coffee drink at home instead of at a cafe.

As much as I enjoy this routine, I have to admit there is an impact it has on the world - the environment, natural resources, human and animals rights, etc. We could consider the factory that built my Rancilio Silvia espresso machine: who made the machine, what kind of energy powered the tools they used, how was it shipped to me, what kind of energy now powers said machine in my apartment? We could consider the milk for the cappuccino's foam: from what kind of cow did it come (what is the history of its breed), was said cow humanely treated, what energy powered the machine which harvested said cow's milk, how was the milk transported to me, was the (probable) truck driver treated/paid well? As we drill down into the source of any of our goods we begin to realize that almost all human existence has a negative impact on someone or something somewhere.

Comfort is a depiction of that which is out of sight and out of mind. Made only with the noises of my espresso machine and the items related to enjoying my morning cappuccino, Comfort is a moment to contemplate the impact of our consumerist society and what the easy procurement of goods does to our planet.

Comfort

Carlos Guastavino - Tres Romances Argentinos, II. Muchacho Jujeño
Performed on April 25, 2017 by Nicholas Brewer and Anne Marie Caldoza in Pickman Hall at Longy School of Music

Nicholas Brewer

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