“Last of James Fenimore Cooper”
June 9 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm EDT
Composer Brent Michael Davids (Mohican/ Munsee-Lenape) has composed a charming quartet about James Fenimore Cooper. Davids, who embraces Indigenous themes and subjects in his music, considers Cooper’s ignorance of native culture in “The Last of the Mohicans” this delightful work for string quartet, featuring members of Albany Symphony. This event is featured as part of the Sanctuary for Independent Media’s Freedom Festival in collaboration with the American Music Festival. Join us at the Sanctuary Main Space for the culmination of our multi-year NEA Our Town Sanctuary Eco-Art Trail Project!
Brent Michael Davids is an internationally celebrated Mohican and Munsee-Lenape composer, and self-described music warrior. As an advocate for Native equity and parity, Davids places Native voices front and center. He originated and co-founded the award-winning Native American Composer Apprentice Project (NACAP), championing indigenous youth to compose their own written music. He uses indigenous instruments, including handmade quartz flutes, and pens performable notations that are themselves visual works of art. Davids is co-director of the Lenape Center in Manhattan, and is enrolled in the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. His composing career spans nearly five decades, with countless awards and commissions from America’s most celebrated organizations and ensembles.
“When we collaborate and experiment in song, we are discovering life benefits, not simply musical ones. Our interactions as composers, performers, audiences, students and teachers constitute important relational skills. If we can excite creativity and cooperation in each other, we have accomplished a magnificent thing.” – Brent Michael Davids
The Albany Symphony Orchestra is a supporting partner of our NEA Our TownSanctuary Eco Art Trail Project.
The Orchestra’s American Music Festival is a weekend-long festival of innovative concerts, new music, and artistic happenings around historic Troy, NY. The Festival traditionally takes place on the first weekend in June and comes to North-Central Troy for the first time in collaboration with the Sanctuary’s Freedom Festival on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, at 4PM.
We are committed to lowering the barriers to access for events at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. For people who are hard of hearing or deaf, blind or low-vision, or whose physical limitations can interfere with a satisfying experience, let us know two weeks in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.
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