'Hidden Whispers'

The Lindenbaum Festival Ensemble performs during Harvard University’s annual Arts First Festival, which ran from April 27 to 30. The ensemble world-premiered “Hidden Whispers,” composed by Amir Bitran, at the Sanders Theater at ...

The Lindenbaum Festival Ensemble performs during Harvard University’s annual Arts First Festival, which ran from April 27 to 30. The ensemble world-premiered “Hidden Whispers,” composed by Amir Bitran, at the Sanders Theater at Harvard University on April 29. “Hidden Whispers” is a musicalized piece based on the infrasound used by elephants to communicate, which is less than 20 hertz and can travel up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). This frequency, of course, cannot be heard by the ordinary human ear.

“‘Hidden Whispers’ — this musical narrative reimagines the stories exchanged by majestic elephants — beasts highly threatened by environmental destruction and climate change — as they communicate in ways unknowable to us,” said Bitran, who is currently a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. “I really appreciate the fantastic performance and the hard work the members of Lindenbaum Festival Ensemble all put in. It is such an honor to have them play this science and music-based piece.” The festival ensemble, consisting of students from the United States and Korea, performed under the baton of Reuben Stern, a music director for Harvard Bach Society Orchestra.

[LINDENBAUM FESTIVAL ENSELBME]