Orcinus (Oceanic Dolphin/Orca)
Pre Concert talk (by Jacob Randall Holmes) and program notes included in the video submission.
Since the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, the topic of Orcas, or killer whales, in captivity has become a very controversial discussion in the media and scientific community. Orca whales are complex and beautiful animals, not just in terms of their physique and unique exterior. Through extensive research, experts have found that Orcas have a limbic system that extends significantly further forward than that of humans, meaning they experience and process emotions such as love, joy, friendship, sadness, rage, grief, and depression on a higher scale than humans are able to. This is the primary reason why pods of Orcas have been known to participate in mass strandings/beachings to escape the pain of loss. My intention when composing this piece was to effectively musicalize the physical aspects, abilities, and forms of sensory communication (whale calls/vocalizations) of an Orca in tandem with attempting to delve into their psyche to empathize with this awesome creature of the sea.
