Root Song – World Premiere II Performance
Premiering at Bartram’s Garden, Root Song blends live vocal chamber music by Roomful of Teeth—an eight-voice “singing forest”—with Indigenous storytelling by Tchin, transforming the unseen realities of the woodland into a musical conversation. Inspired by ground-breaking research on the connection and communication of trees and rooted in Indigenous Knowledge, Root Song explores the mysteries of our interconnected natural world. Presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and directed by Jazimina Creamer-MacNeil, the work is composed by Christopher Theofanidis with a libretto by Melissa Studdard.
This is the second of two identical performances at Bartram’s Garden, the first taking place on May 29.
NATURE WALK – Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer will lead a nature walk at Bartram’s Garden before the performance, from 2:00-2:40 PM.
TICKETS – Root Song concert tickets are $35. A limited number of $2 tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis to Southwest Philadelphia neighbors as well as all ACCESS cardholders. ACCESS tickets will be available for sale starting on May 1. Directions, parking, and shuttle information will be provided to ticket holders. For tickets or questions, please contact the PCMS box office at (215) 569-8080.
PANEL DISCUSSION – A panel discussion featuring Robin Wall Kimmerer and Suzanne Simard on Saturday, May 30 (7:30 PM) at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater explores the ancient wisdom of the trees and our role within this web of relationships.
Presented with lead sponsorship from The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation and Andrea Baldeck, with additional support from ArtPhilly (project partner); Gordon & Patricia Fowler; Pauline Candaux and Sol Katz; Kenneth Rainin Foundation, as recommended by Moy Eng; Katherine Niven; Louise & David Strawbridge; and Joan & David Kligerman. Philadelphia Chamber Music Society is a recipient of Chamber Music America’s Classical Commissioning: A Responsive Shift grant, funded by Chamber Music America, with generous support from the Sewell Family Foundation.
