David Rothenberg - Duet Partner and Conductor of Nature

David Rothenberg’s approach to music is just as unique and experimental as it gets. It’s not a conventional orchestra consisting of 30 people or a variety of digitalised instruments that can be arranged via drag and drop on a digital interface. Rothenberg searches for the instruments and duet partners he prefers to use and work within nature. 

Rothenberg seems to invite all sorts of animals such as whales, birds, and even insects to perform a duet with him creating a collaboration that is as unlike as it gets. He accomplishes something truly remarkable: by performing such duets with animal collaborators he creates a deeper meaning and understanding of music; at least to me. Thanks to his work I was reminded that music is not necessarily some form of expression exclusive to humans. I always understood music and sound as a way of communication that transcends any distance, national border, ethnic background, or any other differences between humans. Not only do his projects reinforce those thoughts, but they also expand them to the whole world, or more specifically the animal world which is undoubtedly part of us and our identity albeit a rather neglected part. When listening to Rothenberg playing the clarinet with a humpback whale in Hawaii, I at first found it kind of amusing because as strange as it may seem at first, I felt like I could hear some sort of connection and collaboration between the largest mammal on earth performing its roaring sounds through the depths of the ocean seemingly responding to the sounds of Rothenberg’s clarinet. The playful auditive interaction becomes even more apparent when he duets with a bunch of tiny creatures with wings and a powerful voice. The “Nightingales in Berlin” seemingly wait for their parts in-between Rothenberg’s jazzy clarinet tunes, performing their parts as the leading sounds of the clarinet and violin guide the song.

I believe David Rothenberg helps modern ears accustomed to one of the world’s largest entertainment sectors to take a step back from music as it is known and travel to a time and place where it is reconnected to perhaps its roots in nature. Music is not something exclusive to humans. We may have perfecting or some might say even overcomplicated it to the extent that its origins – that is a form of communication – is forgotten. Birds, whales, and cicadas in cooperation with David Rothenberg’s musical guidance beautifully and relaxingly present what music was and is all about.