Recording |
Score |
Program Note
I grew up in Washington State, where I regularly spotted Sunflower Sea Stars in Puget Sound at low tide or when looking down at the shallows from my dad’s boat. The second largest sea star in the world, they grow to three feet across, range in color from yellow to orange to purple, and sport 16-24 legs radiating from their body, like the petals of the flower that inspires their name. They are a beautiful and impressive species, and play a vital role in particular for keeping sea urchin populations in check and thereby preserving kelp forest habitat. Once a common sight from California to Alaska, in the last 10 years, they have completely disappeared in California and Oregon and sightings are rare in Washington. Scientists do not know the exact cause but their decline is linked to climate change and sea star wasting disease. The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed them as critically endangered in December 2020, and the University of Washington began an experimental captive breeding initiative in an attempt to bolster their numbers. To support their work, visit Stars for the Sea.
The first movement of Sunflower Sea Star, Intertidal, takes listeners on a journey to the intertidal zone, the area of beach that is above water at low tide and underwater at high tide, where the sea stars make their home. The piano depicts rolling waves and sparkling surf, while the bassoon’s lyrical melodies celebrate the beauty of the sea star and its habitat. Movement 2, Predator, follows the hungry sea star on the hunt, moving rapidly on 15,000 tiny tube feet, snatching prey with its leading arms, prying it apart, and protruding its stomach to envelop and digest prey before expelling hard shells. The final movement, Keystone, explores the decline of the species to further remote areas and the loneliness we all feel without them in our lives.
Sunflower Sea Star was commissioned by a consortium of bassoonists led by Martin J. Van Klompenberg, Lead Commissioner, and Kassandra Ormsby, Student Coordinator. Full list of commissioners below.
--Lisa Neher
SUNFLOWER SEA STARS IN THE NEWS
Scientists create recovery roadmap for Sunflower Sea Star: OPB's Think Out Loud (Dec 5, 2022)
West Coast scientists call for action to help sunflower sea stars: OPB/AP (Dec 3, 2022)
Sunflower sea stars being considered for Endangered Species Act protections: OPB (Jan 1, 2022)
Critically endangered sea star not recovering in the wild: Nature Conservancy (Aug 24, 2021)
Sunflower sea stars declared critically endangered on West Coast: OPB (Dec 11, 2020)
Sea star wasting syndrome arrives in Oregon: OPB (May 5, 2014)
Complete List of Commissioners:
PROFESSIONAL TIER:
Margaret Fey (Penn State University)
Vinny LaMonica (Quiet Corner Music Studio)
Sarah Lee (Erie Philharmonic)
Albie Micklich (Arizona State University)
Angela Moretti (Texas Lutheran University)
Douglas G. Moran
Leigh Muñoz (Conservatory at University of Missouri-Kansas City)
Allison Nicotera (University of Kentucky)
Robyn Watson (Trio de Bois)
Miriam Webber (Bemidji State University, Silent Voices Project)
STUDENT TIER:
Mason Cox (Arizona State University)
Michelle Fletcher (Arizona State University
Haley Houk (University of Houston)
Hal Ide
Erik Paul (New England Conservatory)
Cassandra Roaché (University of Georgia)
Edward Senn (University of Arizona)
James Scott (Colorado State University)
Erik Traheim (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)
The first movement of Sunflower Sea Star, Intertidal, takes listeners on a journey to the intertidal zone, the area of beach that is above water at low tide and underwater at high tide, where the sea stars make their home. The piano depicts rolling waves and sparkling surf, while the bassoon’s lyrical melodies celebrate the beauty of the sea star and its habitat. Movement 2, Predator, follows the hungry sea star on the hunt, moving rapidly on 15,000 tiny tube feet, snatching prey with its leading arms, prying it apart, and protruding its stomach to envelop and digest prey before expelling hard shells. The final movement, Keystone, explores the decline of the species to further remote areas and the loneliness we all feel without them in our lives.
Sunflower Sea Star was commissioned by a consortium of bassoonists led by Martin J. Van Klompenberg, Lead Commissioner, and Kassandra Ormsby, Student Coordinator. Full list of commissioners below.
--Lisa Neher
SUNFLOWER SEA STARS IN THE NEWS
Scientists create recovery roadmap for Sunflower Sea Star: OPB's Think Out Loud (Dec 5, 2022)
West Coast scientists call for action to help sunflower sea stars: OPB/AP (Dec 3, 2022)
Sunflower sea stars being considered for Endangered Species Act protections: OPB (Jan 1, 2022)
Critically endangered sea star not recovering in the wild: Nature Conservancy (Aug 24, 2021)
Sunflower sea stars declared critically endangered on West Coast: OPB (Dec 11, 2020)
Sea star wasting syndrome arrives in Oregon: OPB (May 5, 2014)
Complete List of Commissioners:
PROFESSIONAL TIER:
Margaret Fey (Penn State University)
Vinny LaMonica (Quiet Corner Music Studio)
Sarah Lee (Erie Philharmonic)
Albie Micklich (Arizona State University)
Angela Moretti (Texas Lutheran University)
Douglas G. Moran
Leigh Muñoz (Conservatory at University of Missouri-Kansas City)
Allison Nicotera (University of Kentucky)
Robyn Watson (Trio de Bois)
Miriam Webber (Bemidji State University, Silent Voices Project)
STUDENT TIER:
Mason Cox (Arizona State University)
Michelle Fletcher (Arizona State University
Haley Houk (University of Houston)
Hal Ide
Erik Paul (New England Conservatory)
Cassandra Roaché (University of Georgia)
Edward Senn (University of Arizona)
James Scott (Colorado State University)
Erik Traheim (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)