transformational landscape
Check back in January 2026 for information about the air date for the PBS episode of "Songs About Buildings and Moods."
Program Note:
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Co-composed by Thomas Childs and Cynthia Van Maanen for the PBS online series entitled “Songs About Buildings and Moods”, Seth Boustead producer.
transformational landscapes focuses on the architecture and philosophy of Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride (1809-1883) who designed the asylums that bear his name. Built in the mid-19th century, there are many of these buildings throughout the United States and one in both Canada and Australia. These ‘Kirkbride’ buildings utilized a specific batwing floor plan which helped Dr. Kirkbride implement his philosophy of treating those who were institutionalized. The design was meant to promote privacy and comfort while also giving sunlight and beauty access to every single patient. More about the details of these buildings and Kirkbride’s philosophy can be found online and in several books we referenced specifically written about the Traverse City State Hospital located in Michigan. That hospital and the surrounding buildings are now known as “The Village at Grand Traverse Commons” and is a local community gathering place after being refurbished by The Minervini Group. Local shops, dining establishments, an assisted living space for seniors and special events happen in the main ‘Building 50’ and the additional buildings along its perimeter. We focused our musical composition around both the architectural design of the building itself and the philosophy of Kirkbride–that these patients needed beauty and purpose in their lives and in their community within the hospital. Our music mirrors this architectural batwing form and the progress of the patients through our choices for harmony and rhythm. We took one half of the mirrored blueprint and composed the music to represent the various wings in that half. Harmonic and rhythmic choices embody the internal struggles and successes of the patients who would have been housed in these differing wings. The outermost wing (our initial opening measures) housed the most disturbed and noisy patients. Each wing that was successively closer to the center of the building housed the patients that were increasingly more calm and further along their journey toward mental health. At the very center stood an Administration building (now gone from the Traverse City facility). In that administration building was a five story mahogany staircase. Ultimately this building was condemned in part due to this staircase and the fire hazard it posed. In the climax of our work, we constructed music to represent this staircase…this center…and ideally, the patients’ exit from the facility and back into society and our community. Both composers are on the music faculty of the Interlochen Arts Academy and felt it important to mirror the community this Kirkbride facility has brought to our local area since it was rebuilt. Joined by dance faculty Katherine Dorn (who designed and danced the choreography) we wanted to work within our own community of faculty, staff, alumni, and students from Interlochen. This work was premiered with alumni Joseph Skerik, viola; Kyle Stachnik, cello; and with students Ava Gilbert, flute; and Joseph Rodriguez, percussion. Peter Payette from Interlochen Public Radio was pivotal in bringing this project to Interlochen. Staff members Michael Culler and Alexandra Herryman were invaluable in helping us bring this project to life. After the PBS premiere Joe and Kyle commissioned us to create a string quartet version of the work for their group Viridian Strings. |
photos courtesy of Renee Kaufman
Photography by Kauffee @cupofkauffee (instagram) |