2011 Master's of Music in Composition graduate Keane Southard is planning to hike the Appalachian Trail and write a symphony about the expedition.
Anyone living in Boulder, in the shadow of the Flatirons, could understand the allure of taking your work into the mountains.
Keane Southard has a hunch that the wind blowing through the trees, the sound of critters and the very contour of the earth will set a unique scene as he writes his first symphony.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to bring an iPod or any music with me. I want to listen for the natural sounds and think about how they might be reflected in my music.鈥�
The 2011 composition master's graduate has his compass set on the Appalachian Trail, the 2,000-mile path through the mountains of the eastern United States. He鈥檚 currently raising money to hike a five-state stretch of the trail through his home region of New England鈥攁nd write a large-scale orchestral work inspired by the expedition.
鈥淚鈥檝e kind of been all over the place since getting my master鈥檚 in Boulder,鈥� says Southard. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 originally from Massachusetts, so this is a way to reconnect with my home.鈥�
Always an avid traveler and camper, Southard has done a couple of overnight hikes on the trail, and he camped throughout New England as a child. This summer, he intends to spend more than two months trekking the northernmost leg of the trail鈥攖hrough Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
While composition always carries with it a list of expenses, this particular piece鈥攁nd the journey to make it a reality鈥攑resents even more cost challenges. That鈥檚 why Southard is asking for help on crowdfunding site.
鈥淚 have to set aside the time to do the hike and compose the symphony 鈥� about nine months total,鈥� Southard explains. 鈥淏ut there are also supplies and hiking gear to take into account.鈥�
He鈥檚 hoping to raise $10,000 to commission the symphony fund the hike, in addition to help from a couple of grants and backing from the regional orchestras that will eventually perform the piece.
Director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Music Jeff Nytch says Southard's efforts are a perfect example of entrepreneurship in action.
"For the arts entrepreneur, opportunities to support our work are often found outside the art itself鈥攊n Keane's case, with his interest in nature and conservation. By connecting his project with orchestras in the vicinity of the Appalachian Trail, Keane has created value for a major work he could not have otherwise undertaken."
As for composing a symphony away from a computer, a piano or any other kind of instrument, Southard has a plan for recording his observations and thoughts.
鈥淎ll I鈥檓 taking is a little notebook with staff paper, which will serve as my journal and my place to jot down any musical ideas that come to me. Most of the composing will take place after I get back.鈥�
And as for what those ideas might be? Southard has tried to keep the pre-hike brainstorming to a minimum.
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen musically,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 have some general ideas鈥攚riting one movement for each of the five states, or determining the length of each movement by the mileage of the trail in each state. But I really want to listen to the soundscapes around me and have the music arise out of my experiences during the hike.鈥�
While Southard has traveled for his work before鈥攈e spent a year in Brazil on a Fulbright scholarship in 2013鈥攈e says he鈥檚 never written a 鈥渄estination composition鈥� like this before.
鈥淚 wrote a piece called 鈥楢 Year in Brazil鈥� after I got back inspired by all the amazing flute players I met there,鈥� he says.
He鈥檚 known the gravity of this project鈥攚hat it could mean for his career and his personal goals, what a symphony about the trail could do for tourism and conservation in the region鈥攕ince he first got the idea.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a realization of two dreams of mine: to hike the trail and to compose a symphony. But as a young composer, it could also provide a lot of visibility for me in my career.
鈥淢ore than anything, I hope it鈥檚 something people are intrigued by. I hope it inspires them to go out and experience and care for this amazing nature that鈥檚 right in their backyard.鈥�
If you鈥檇 like to help make the Appalachian Trail Symphony a reality, visit before May 21 to make a donation. In recognition of your support, you could receive a recording of the work, your name in the score and even a signed copy of the score.
