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David Rothenberg - Nightingales in Berlin

2019 saw the publication of "Nightingales in Berlin," a piece by American musician and composer David Rothenberg. Rothenberg and the Berlin nightingales collaborated on the composition, which includes recordings of the birds singing in their natural environment.

The sound of the birds mingles with Rothenberg's electronic manipulations and improvisations to create a sonic environment that is both familiar and unusual, making the music of "Nightingales in Berlin" both organic and otherworldly.

The song of the nightingales fluctuates in volume and intensity throughout the piece, giving it a feeling of motion and flow, and there are moments of breathtaking beauty. The music's additions by Rothenberg, which provide layers of texture and ambiance to augment the birds' natural sound, are understated yet powerful.

The nightingales' singing was intense and moving, evoking in me a wide spectrum of feelings. I initially experienced astonishment and admiration at the beauty of the situation. Since I grew up on a farm I am familiar with the sounds of the birds, and still, I was mesmerized by their harmonies.

I felt a strong connection to the environment the entire time the performance was going on.

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