EDMONDS — Music, for Seattle-based pianist and composer Nelda Swiggett, is an accessible way to engage audiences in climate change discussions.
From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Swiggett will debut her second climate-themed piece “For the Birds” at the Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers St., in an event hosted by Interfaith Climate Action.
“We’re good at keeping our blinders on,” Swiggett said. “It’s challenging to look at the reality of what’s happening. Being able to intersperse these reality checks along with the music — it’s just the combination that keeps people in their seats and opens them up.”
Swiggett and fellow musicians Kate Olson, Clif Swiggett, Chris Symer and Adam Kessler will perform the piece as the Nelda Swiggett Quintet. Author Jill McGrath will also read her poetry throughout the performance.
“The end goal is to really present a story of hope and action,” Swiggett said. “That people leave the concert not depressed but inspired.”
“For the Birds” is “a framework to talk about climate change right in our backyards,” she said. She interviewed several bird experts at the University of Washington, Audubon Washington and Birds Connect Seattle while working on the piece to understand how climate change harms birds.
Since 1970, the North American bird population has decreased from an estimated 10 billion to almost 7 billion.
“A lot of people have a soft spot for birds,” said Gayle Leberg, a leader of Interfaith Climate Action.
Unlike reading literature about climate change, audiences will experience “For the Birds” as a group, she said.
“Music in particular touches emotions,” Leberg said. “It transports us.”
Swiggett debuted her first climate-themed piece “The Alaska Suite: A story of beauty, loss and hope” on Earth Day in 2017. Instruments imitated the sounds of melting glaciers and whale calls to reflect warming waters in the Arctic Ocean.
The quintet performed “The Alaska Suite” to nearly 2,500 people at over 30 concerts across Washington.
“A number of people have told me they’ve gone out and gotten an electric car — some the very next day,” Swiggett said of Alaska Suite listeners. “I know it has had an impact.”
Suggested donations for the concert in Edmonds are between $10 to $20. Tickets are free for children age 12 and under.
To purchase tickets, go to forthebirds.eventbrite.com.
Ta’Leah Van Sistine: 425-339-3460; taleah.vansistine@heraldnet.com; X: @TaLeahRoseV.
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