Josh Rogers, Brianna Skeen, and Nick Walker - 2023

Artist's Statement

In class we watched a documentary on biodiversity loss that featured a Hawaiian bird called the Kaua’i’ō'ō bird that went extinct. We were especially touched by the sequence that depicted the last of its species at mating season calling for a mate that no longer existed. We were so moved by the Kaua’i’ō'ō, that we decided to base our project off of this experience. Nick Walker researched the Kaua’i’ō'ō and found recordings and transcriptions of its mating call. He then sent this research to Josh Rogers who used this mating call as the basis of a melody in an original duet composition for Soprano and Tenor voices accompanied by the piano. We felt that the music alone was not enough to capture the true essence of this tragic story and needed appropriate lyrics to bring the Kaua’i’ō'ō back to life, and prevent the same fate for another bird species in the future. We wanted this to be an art song with a poem written by a native Hawaiian poet. After searching through dozens of poems Brianna Skeen found the perfect poem entitled “You were my home” written by Hawaiian native and poet Connie Marcum Wong. We have included the lyrics/poem below. We believe that this song we have collaborated on and performed, perfectly captures the love, life, and loss of the Kaua’i’ō'ō and all other species threatened with extinction.

“You were my home”

by Connie Marcum Wong

You were my home
My refuge,
My place of peace,
My protection,
My Hawaiian
Melody
Where love always
Welcomed me
With a warm hug,
A knowing gaze,
A celestial
Connection
Where our words
Were not needed.
A place where
Understanding
And acceptance
Dwelled within
A huge beating
Humble heart
That was in
Rhythm with mine.
So Divine!
Then sadly you died.
Now I am homeless.