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wendy reid
tree pieces
UPCOMING EVENTS:
AMBIENT BIRD - BERKELEY PROJECT (2025-2626):
*Ohlone Park 2026 - 7:30pm 5/16
Indian Rock 2026 - 6pm 3/20/26
Live Oak Park 2025 - 6pm 9/22/25
Shorebird Park -7pm 8/10/25
*SATURDAY MAY 16 - 7:30 PM:
AMBIENT BIRD -OHLONE PARK
1601 Hearst Avenue (near North Berkeley Bart)
Best of the Bay 2025 Editors' Pick, ‘Wendy and Lulu’ by Lou Fancher:
https://48hills.org/2025/09/best-of-the-bay-2025-editors-pick-wendy-reid-and-lulu/
SATURDAY MAY 16 international day of peace
Ambient Bird - Ohlone Park 2026 - 7:30 pm
Saturday May 16 - 7:30pm
Ambient Bird - Ohlone Park premiere
with sfSOUND, the bird ensemble
and the dailybell* at sunset
with a dedication to the Ohlone People
1601 Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA
-near North Berkeley Bart and the dog park,
under the trees, with no formal seating:
sit on the grass, stand, or wander
musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglass
Ron Heglin, tuba
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Diane Grubbe, flute
Tom Djll, trumpet
John Ingle, saxophone
David Michalak, skatch birds
Jacob Felix Heule, percussion
*the dailybell, everyone
Ohlone Park: 1601 Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA
Wendy Reid’s site-specific work Ambient Bird-Ohlone Park 2026 is a 52-minute interspecies sonic landscape which reflects an eco-centric philosophy of connecting with all living creatures and the environment. The ensemble includes an African Grey parrot and experimental musicians working with the ambient sounds, specifically, the birds of Ohlone Park: Cedar Waxwings, Lesser Goldfinches, Bewick's Wrens, Oak Titmice, Western Bluebirds, Anna's Hummingbirds, California Scrub-Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, Stone Pigeons, and American Crows -all part of an event that is intended to bring everyone and everything together, and honor the park's indigenous inhabitants, the Ohlone People.
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: a spatially notated score of sonic fragments transcribed from bird-human interactions and a Native American chant is interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment. Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
This site-specific piece, as with the first incantation, Ambient Bird 433 pays homage to John Cage’s ambient silent composition, 4’33” (1952).
At sunset, following the performance, Brenda Hutchinson leads everyone in bell-ringing: dailybell, created by composer and sound artist Brenda Hutchinson in 2008, is an ongoing aspirational project based on the premise that something as inarguable as the movement of the Earth can be used as a point of unity and awareness among groups of people who might otherwise find it impossible to agree.
*About the site: Ohlone Park was originally the land of the Ohlone People, who consider their connection to the earth to be sacred. It remains a place of cultural significance that people protect and recognize its history. It is the hope of many that one day it will be returned to its indigenous inhabitants.
Special Thanks to City of Berkeley-Shallon Allen, Matt Ingalls-sfSOUND, Phil Perkins-location sound engineer, Thomas Matheus-videographer, Edward Morse-technical assistance, and the musicians of ‘Ambient Bird-Ohlone Park’
This performance is made possible with a Civic Arts Grant from the City of Berkeley
Ambient Bird Ensemble (photo: Silvia Matheus)
site of Ambient Bird - Ohlone Park 2026
*************
Ambient Bird - Berkeley (2025-2026):
Indian Rock 2026 - 6pm 3/20/26
FRIDAY, MARCH 20 spring equinox
AMBIENT BIRD - INDIAN ROCK 2026
(photo: Molly Holm) the rock listeners (3/20/26)
(photo: Andrew Aldrich) Ambient Bird - Indian Rock 2026 ensemble (3/20/26)
sfSOUND musicians join the bird ensemble in a Spring Equinox outdoor performance of Wendy Reid’s Ambient Bird-Indian Rock 2026, with Brenda Hutchinson’s Dailybell at sunset
Friday, March 20-6:30pm at Indian Rock Park: 950 Indian Rock Ave, Berkeley 94707 -There is no formal seating so bring a blanket, chair, or sit on the rock
(photo: Tom Djll)
musicians:
Lulu, African Grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Krys Bobrowski, gilsglas
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Ron Heglin, tuba
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Tom Djll, trumpet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
John Ingle, saxophone
David Michalak, skatchbirds
Dailybell, everyone
notes-
AMBIENT BIRD - INDIAN ROCK 2026
Ambient Bird - Indian Rock 2026 is a 44-minute interspecies sonic environment that invites humans, animals, and nature to come together in a shared experience of sound, silence, and connection. The ambient landscape and experimental musicians, with traditional and invented instruments, create a collaborative and inclusive space where all are welcome to listen, engage and contribute to the evolving soundscape. Among the many species of birds at Indian Rock, there are Bewick's Wrens, Dark-eyed Juncos, Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Anna's Hummingbirds, California Scrub-Jays, American Crows, Yellow-billed Magpies, Rock Pigeons, various raptors, among others -all part of a performance which brings everyone and everything together.
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: a spatially notated score of sonic fragments transcribed from bird-human interactions is interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment of Indian Rock. Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
This site-specific piece, as with the first incantation,‘Ambient Bird 433’, pays homage to John Cage’s composition 4’33”(1952).
Dailybell: immediately after the performance, at sunset, Brenda Hutchinson leads everyone in bell-ringing, celebrating the Spring Equinox: created by composer and sound artist Brenda Hutchinson in 2008, Dailybell is an ongoing aspirational project based on the premise that something as inarguable as the movement of the Earth can be used as a point of unity and awareness among groups of people who might otherwise find it impossible to agree.
About the site: Indian Rock Park was originally the land of the Ohlone people, who consider their connection to the rocks to be sacred. It remains a place of cultural significance that people protect and recognize its history. It is the hope of many that one day it will be returned to its indigenous inhabitants.
Special Thanks: City of Berkeley-Shallon Allen, Silvia Matheus-videographer, Phil Perkins-location audio engineer, Edward Morse-tech, Andrew Aldrich-photography, Matt Ingalls-sfSOUND, and the musicians of Ambient Bird-Indian Rock 2026
This performance is included in ‘Ambient Bird-Berkeley’ (2025-26), a project supported in part by a Civic Arts Grant from the City of Berkeley
(photo: Andrew Aldrich) Lulu and Wendy (3/20/26)
Ambient Bird - Indian Rock 2026, a photo documentation by Silvia Matheus:
***********
Ambient Bird - Berkeley:
Live Oak Park 2025 - 6pm 9/22/25
THURDAY SEPTEMBER 22 fall equinox
September 22, 2025 6pm
Ambient Bird - Live Oak 2025
with sfSOUND, the bird ensemble
and the dailybell* at sunset
Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
-near the creek, under the trees, with no formal seating:
sit on the stone steps or grass, stand or wander
musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglass
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Ben Davis, cello
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Diane Grubbe, flute
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
John Ingle, saxophone
David Michalak, skatch birds
*the dailybell, everyone
Ambient Bird-Live Oak 2025
(photo:Andrew Aldrich)
(video: Silvia Matheus)
sfSOUND and the Bird Ensemble
(photo: Silvia Matheus)
Wendy Reid’s site-specific work Ambient Bird-Live Oak is in its fourth year of what is now an annual event on the fall equinox: a 44-minute interspecies sonic landscape which reflects an eco-centric philosophy of connecting with all living creatures and the environment. The ensemble includes an African Grey parrot and experimental musicians working with the ambient sounds, specifically, the birds of Live Oak Park: Mourning Doves, Black Phoebes, American Robins, Steller's Jays, Western Scrub-Jays, California Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, American Crows, Yellow-billed Magpies and Common Ravens (among others) are all part of an event that is intended to bring everyone and everything together.
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: a spatially notated score of sonic fragments transcribed from bird-human interactions is interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment. Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
This site-specific piece, as with the first incantation,‘Ambient Bird 433’, pays homage to John Cage’s composition, 4’33”(1952).
At sunset, following the performance, Brenda Hutchinson leads everyone in bell-ringing: dailybell, created by composer and sound artist Brenda Hutchinson in 2008, is an ongoing aspirational project based on the premise that something as inarguable as the movement of the Earth can be used as a point of unity and awareness among groups of people who might otherwise find it impossible to agree.
Location: Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA, under the trees, near the creek. There is no formal seating: the audience sits on the stone steps or grass, stands, or wanders.
About the site: Live Oak Park was originally the land of the Ohlone People, who consider their connection to the earth to be sacred. It remains a place of cultural significance that people protect and recognize its history. It is the hope of many that one day it will be returned to its indigenous inhabitants.
Special Thanks to City of Berkeley-Shallon Allen, Matt Ingalls-sfSOUND, Phil Perkins-location sound engineer, Silvia Matheus-videographer, Edward Morse-technical assistance, and the musicians of ‘Ambient Bird-Live Oak’
This performance is made possible with a Civic Arts Grant from the City of Berkeley
****
Ambient Bird -Berkeley:
Shorebird Park -7pm 8/10/25
Shorebird Park (photo: A. Aldrich)
(photo: Andrew Aldrich)
Ambient Bird-Shorebird Park (2025)
Program Notes for Shorebird Park
AUGUST 10, 2025 7pm
Ambient Bird - Shorebird Park (premiere)
with sfSOUND, bird ensemble
& the dailybell* at sunset
musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglass
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Ben Davis, cello
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe
John Ingle, saxophone
Ambient Bird-Shorebird Park (8-10-2025)
(photo: Silvia Matheus)
Ambient Bird-Shorebird Park is a 48-minute interspecies sonic landscape connecting with all living creatures and the environment. The ensemble includes experimental musicians and a bird working with the ambient sounds, specifically, the birds of Shorebird Park: Long-billed Curlews, Marbled Godwits, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Sanderlings, American Rock Pigeons, Pacific Loons, American Crows, Yellow-billed Magpies, Common Ravens, and Wild Turkeys (among others)
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: a spatially notated score of sonic fragments transcribed from bird-human interactions is interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment. Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
This site-specific piece, as with the first incantation, ‘Ambient Bird 433’, pays homage to John Cage’s composition, 4’33”(1952).
*At sunset, immediately following the performance, Brenda Hutchinson leads everyone in bell-ringing: dailybell, created by composer and sound artist Brenda Hutchinson in 2008, is an ongoing aspirational project based on the premise that something as inarguable as the movement of the Earth can be used as a point of unity and awareness among groups of people who might otherwise find it impossible to agree.
Location: Shorebird Park, 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA. There is no formal seating: the audience sits on the grass, stands, or wanders
About the site: Shorebird Park was originally the land of the Ohlone people, who consider their connection to the earth to be sacred. It remains a place of cultural significance that people protect and recognize its history. It is the hope of many that one day it will be returned to its indigenous inhabitants.
Special Thanks to City of Berkeley-Shallon Allen, Matt Ingalls-sfSOUND, Phil Perkins-location engineer, Silvia Matheus-videographer, Edward Morse-technical assistance, & the musicians of Ambient Bird-Shorebird Park.
This performance is made possible with a civic arts grant from the City of Berkeley, and Is part of a project entitled ‘Ambient Bird-Berkeley' (2025-26)
(video: Silvia Matheus)
****
Wendy and Lulu (2025)
June 21, 2025
Ambient Bird - Garden of Memory with the bird ensemble
musicians:
Lulu , African Grey Parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba.
David Samas, percussion
Garden of Memory Solstice Event Chapel Of The Chimes 4499 Piedmont Ave, Oakland
5:00-9:00 PM
****
Indian Rock (2025)
(photo: Tom Djll)
March 20, 2025 spring equinox premiere
Ambient Bird - Indian Rock
with the bird ensemble and dailybell
musicians:
Lulu, African Grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
Ron Heglin, tuba
Jacob Felix Heule, percussion
(photo: Tom Djll)
(photos: Tom Djll)
(audio recording: Phil Perkins)
Program:
Ambient Bird - Indian Rock is a 44-minute interspecies sonic environment that invites humans, animals, and nature to come together in a shared experience of sound, silence, and connection. The ambient landscape and experimental musicians, with traditional and invented instruments, create a collaborative and inclusive space where all are welcome to listen, engage and contribute to the evolving soundscape.
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: a spatially notated score of sonic fragments transcribed from bird-human interactions is interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment of Indian Rock.
Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
This site-specific piece, as with the first incantation,‘Ambient Bird 433’, pays homage to John Cage’s composition 4’33”(1952).
Dailybell: immediately after the performance, at sunset, Brenda Hutchinson leads everyone in bell-ringing, celebrating the Spring Equinox.
Dailybell, created by composer and sound artist Brenda Hutchinson in 2008, is an ongoing aspirational project based on the premise that something as inarguable as the movement of the Earth can be used as a point of unity and awareness among groups of people who might otherwise find it impossible to agree.
Location:
Indian Rock Park: 950 Indian Rock Ave, Berkeley
There is no formal seating: the audience stands, wanders, or sits on top of the rock
About the site: Indian Rock Park was originally the land of the Ohlone people, who consider their connection to the rocks to be sacred. It remains a place of cultural significance that people protect and recognize its history. It is the hope of many that one day it will be returned to its indigenous inhabitants.
Special Thanks to City of Berkeley-Shallon Allen, Phil Perkins-location engineer, Edward Morse-technical assistance & the musicians of Ambient Bird-Indian Rock
****
February 2, 2025
KQED ( by Julia Haney)
Dynamic Duo: how a composer and her bird came to make beautiful music together
****
Festivals, Conferences, Talks:
October 30, 2025
“Tree Pieces”, music of Wendy Reid, presented by Dr. Ralph Lewis at College Music Society's National Conference:
Spokane, Washington, 10/30/2025
****
April 11, 2025
'From Twittering Machine to Ambient Bird’, composer Wendy Reid talks about the evolution of her recent site-specific works with reference to the indigenous people /environment, and her timbral-focused musical processes composed over four decades; presented by Dr. Ralph Lewis, Millikin University, Decatur, IL, 4/11/2025
****
March 21, 2025
*Penn State New Music Festival and Symposium: ‘Careful Forests: Structures and Indeterminate Interplay within Wendy Reid’s Tree Pieces’ , presented by Dr. Ralph Lewis, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 3/ 20-22 /2025
****
March 28,2025
*College Music Society Northeast: ‘Careful Forests: Structures and Indterminate Interplay within Wendy Reid’s Tree Pieces', presented by Dr. Ralph Lewis, at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, 3/28/2025
****
November, 13, 2024
'Careful Forests: Structures and Indeterminate Interplay within Wendy Reid’s Tree Pieces’, a talk given by composer Ralph Lewis at Explorations in Sound and New Media Art Conference –Porto, Portugal, 11/13/24
****
Violin Workshops: Wendy Reid and students
with Megumi Miyata, accompanist
Megumi (behind the music stand)
Sunday February 8, 2026
Performance Workshop with works by Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Berio, Bartok, Bach, Becker. Dvorak, and Vivaldi; Piedmont Studio
Jennifer, Ellie, George, Hugo, Wendy, Dhevna, Michael
Sunday June 1, 2025
Performance Workshop - Reid, Cage, Feldman, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Berio, Bartok, Boccherini, Bach, Kreisler, and Vivaldi; Live Oak Park, Berkeley, CA
Wendy Reid with students
(Performing Bartok Duo #44 ‘Transylvanian Dance’:Hugo, George, Jane, Wendy, Michael)
(Jennifer, Wendy, Dhevna, Ellie)
Sunday May 11, 2025
Performance Workshop - Reid, Cage, Feldman, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Berio, Bartok, Boccherini, Bach, Kreisler, and Vivaldi; Megumi Miyata Woodruff, accompanist; Pacific Boychoir Academy, Recital Room 13, Park Blvd Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA
Left to right: Michael, Katie, Milan, Wendy, Paul, Andrew, Hugo, Bethel, Grace, Audrey, Nina, Dhevna
****
January 12, 2025 - Sunday 3pm
Performance Workshop - Reid, Bartok. Berio, Bach, Boccherini, Vivaldi, Kreisler; Megumi Miyata Woodruff, accompanist; Pacific Boychoir Academy. Recital Room 13, Park Blvd Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA
(Hugo,George,Wendy, Michael)
****
Performances:
November 9, 2024
Bird Trio ‘at my window (2024) premiere - for bird, violin, and glockenspiel
Wendy Reid, violin
William Winant, glockenspiel, percussion
and Lulu, African Grey parrot
November 11, 2024 - Saturday, 7pm - New Music Works series directed by Phil Collins, Peace United Curch of Christ: 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA
works by Wendy Reid, Steed Cowart, David Lang, Alfred Schnitke, Augusta Read Thomas, and others
****
September 23, 2024- 6:15pm
Ambient - Live Oak 2024 premiere with sfSOUND and the bird ensemble
(photo of Live Oak Park: Andrew Aldrich)
musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglass
Ron Heglin, tuba
Aurora Josephson, voice
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
Diane Grubbe, flute
John Ingle, saxophone
Tom Dambly, trumpet
Ben Davis, cello
(video: Silvia Matheus)
Program:
Ambient Bird - Live Oak 2024 is a 44-minute interspecies sonic landscape/ambient environment which reflects a philosophy of connecting with all living creatures and the environment. The ensemble is made up of experimental musicians who blend various approaches - traditional, improvisational, acoustic, electronic, and ambient - alongside the natural environment, creating a collaborative and inclusive space where all are welcome to listen, engage and contribute to the evolving soundscape.
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: sonic fragments of an African grey parrot (Lulu) become the musical material of a spatially notated score to be interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment. Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity.In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
This site-specific piece, as with its first incantation entitled ‘Ambient Bird 433’, pays homage to John Cage’s composition 4’33”(1952).
Brenda Hutchinson’s Dailybell
At sunset, Brenda Hutchinson will lead lead everyone in bell ringing, celebrating the equinox.
Dailybell, created by composer and sound artist Brenda Hutchinson in 2008, is an ongoing aspirational project based on the premise that something as inarguable as the movement of the Earth can be used as a point of unity and awareness among large groups of people who might otherwise find it impossible to agree. For this work, you will be one of the musicians as we distribute 100 bells to be collectively rung at sunset.
Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley -near the creek, under the trees; there is no formal seating: the audience stands, wanders, or sits on the stairs or grass
Special Thanks to City of Berkeley-Shallon Allen, Silvia Matheus-videographer, Phil Perkins-location audio engineer, Edward Morse-technical assistance, Matt Ingalls-sfSOUND and the musicians of Ambient Bird-Live Oak 2024
****
September 1, 2024
Ambient Bird Quintet
Pet the Tiger
Skronkathon, benefit for sfSOUND series
(Lulu and Wendy Reid)
Dresher Studio
left to right:David Samas, Aurora Josephson, Lulu, Wendy Reid
musicians:
lulu (african grey parrot)
wendy reid (violin)
aurora josephson (voice)
david samas (percussion)
bryan day (electronics)
cheryl leonard (sound sculpture)
with butoh performer christina braun
the skronkrathon is a benefit for the west oakland sound series; dresher studio, 2201 poplar st, oakland
left to right: Lulu, Wendy Reid, Christina Braun, Bryan Day, Cheryl E. Leonard
left to right: David Samas, Aurora Josephson, Lulu, Wendy Reid
****
June 21, 2024
Ambient Bird - epitaph klee (2024) premiere
(photo: A. Josephson) Lulu & Wendy
Ambient Bird - epitaph klee (2024) \ with the bird ensemble: Lulu (African Grey Parrot), Wendy Reid (violin), Kanoko Nishi (koto), Aurora Josephson (voice), David Samas (percussion): June 21, 2024 5-9pm Garden of Memory Solstice Event Chapel Of The Chimes 4499 Piedmont Ave, Oakland
5:00-9:00 PM
https://www.gardenofmemory.
the bird ensemble front row: David Samas percussion), Kanoko Nishi (koto) back row: Aurora Josephson (voice), Lulu (African Grey Parrot), Wendy Reid (violin)
****
June 17, 2024
Bird Trio - ‘at my window'
Bird Trio ‘at my window’ Wendy Reid-violin, William Winant-glockenspiel, percussion, recording engineer, Phil Perkins, Littlefield Theatre, Mills College, 6/17/24
****
June 8, 2024:
Bartok in the Park - June 8, 2024 5pm Live Oak Park: 1301 Shattuck Ave Performance Workshop: violin duos by Bela Bartok performed by Wendy Reid and her students
left to right: Audrey, Grace, Bethel, Hugo, Andrew, Paul, Wendy, Milan, Katie, Michael
Left to right: Michael, Katie, Milan, Wendy, Paul, Andrew, Hugo, Bethel, Grace, Audrey, Nina, Dhevna
****
October 15, 2023:
Berkeley Bird Festival: Sunday October 15
David Brower Center -2150 Allston Way, Berkeley
4:30pm - Talk by Composer Wendy Reid, ‘From Twittering Machine to Ambient Bird: Composing with a bird named Lulu’ https://berkeleybirdfestival.org/wingedwonderment/
4:30pm From Twittering Machine to Ambient Bird: Composing with a Bird named Lulu
Composer Wendy Reid will talk about her Tree Pieces, ongoing musical processes which reflect nature’s manner of operations, and her African Grey Parrot, Lulu, with whom she has lived for 17 years and whom she credits as co-composer for her recent works. Reid has created a unique musical ‘tree notation’ for these pieces ranging from strictly notated conventional scores to her current quasi-improvisational works, using spatial notation and time frames, read from bottom to top akin to following the growth of a tree. In her presentation, she will show scores, play excerpts, and talk about her wonderful musical relationship with Lulu.
September 22, 2023:
Ambient Bird - Live Oak 2023 premiere -preview article:
https://www.sfcv.org/articles/preview/wendy-reid-taps-ambience-natural-world-her-music
Wendy Reid Taps Into the Ambience of the Natural World With Her Music, by Lou Fancher SFCV
San Francisco Classical Voice Preview -Lou Fancher:
https://www.sfcv.org/articles/preview/wendy-reid-taps-ambience-natural-world-her-music
September 22, 2023:
Ambient Bird - Live Oak 2023 premiere with sfSOUND and the bird ensemble 9/ 22/2023 = 6:15pm.
lulu's back in town:
lulu (photo: A.T.)
Ambient Bird-Live Oak 2023 sfSOUND and the bird ensemble
Friday September 22nd 6:15pm
musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglass
Ron Heglin, tuba
Aurora Josephson, voice
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi-Smith, koto
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
Diane Grubbe, flute
John Ingle, saxophone
--
July 19, 2023:
*East Bay Express: Democratic Birdsong
https://eastbayexpress.com/democratic-birdsong/
https://treepieces.net/files/1235032/eastbayexpresswendyreid.pdf
https://edition.pagesuite-
https://treepieces.net/files/1235032/eastbayexpresswendyreid.pdf
https://edition.pagesuite-
--
July 13, 2023
*Other Minds Nature of Music 18 : Wendy Reid
Ambient Bird-West Oakland (2024) premiere with the bird ensemble; Dresher Studio, Oakland, CA 7/13/2023 7:30pm https://www.otherminds.org/nature-of-music/
front row:
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi-Smith, koto
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
back row:
Ron Heglin, tuba
Aurora Josephson, voice
Lulu, African Grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Talk with Charles Amirkhanian on Other Minds Nature of Music:
- Charles Amirkhanian, Lulu, and Wendy Reid discussing Tree Piece #8:
Tree Piece #8 score:
*Nature of Music Program:
https://treepieces.net/files/1262771/natureofmusicprogram.pdf
Nature of Music (photo: Other Minds Staff
(photo: silvia matheus)sfSOUND and the bird ensemble at Live Oak Park - Berkeley:
The Bird Ensemble - front: David Samas, Kanoko Nishi-Smith, Krys Bobrowski back: Ron Heglin, Aurora Josephson, Lulu, Wendy Reid (photo: OM staff)
--
June 21, 2023:
*Garden of Memory at Chapel of the Chimes 2023
ambient bird-epitaph pieces (2023) premiere with the bird ensemble at the Garden of Memory Festival presented by Bay Area New Music and the Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, CA 5-9pm 6/21/2023
Wendy Reid, lulu, Aurora Josephson, Kanoko Nishi-Smith, David Samas
- Google Calendar ICS
- Bird Ensemble: David Samas, Aurora Josephson, Lulu, Wendy Reid, Kanoko Nishi-Smith
left to right: David Samas, Aurora Josephson, Lulu, Wendy Reid, Kanoko Nishi
Garden of Memory
Summer Solstice Celebration at Chapel of the Chimes
4499 Piedmont Ave. Oakland, CA
www.gardenofmemory.com
5-9pm
-→
January 8, 2023:
sfSOUND plays Ambient Bird - Mosswood (premiere)
toshi ichiyanagi - wendy reid
toshi ichiyanagi, wendy reid, hadley mccarroll, ron heglin, ric louchard, tim perkis
SUNDAY 1/8/23 - 7PM : ambient bird - mosswood
*sfSOUND PERFORMS
WENDY REID &
TOSHI ICHIYANAGI
with pianist Hadley McCarroll
**********
HEGLIN-LOUCHARD-PERKIS Trio
mosswood sound series - 3630 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA
ambient bird - mosswood musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Kryś Bobrowski, glisglass
Ron Heglin, tuba
Aurora Josephson, voice
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi-Smith, koto
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
Diane Grubbe, flute
John Ingle, saxophone
--
September 22, 2022
* Ambient Bird - Live Oak 2022 with sfSOUND and the bird ensemble Fall Equinox Thursday Sept 22, 2022 6:15pm
Live Oak Park 1301 Shattuck Ave Berkeley*
http://sfsound.org/series/#2022.9.22
musicians:
Lulu, african grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Kryś Bobrowski, glisglass
Ron Heglin, tuba
Aurora Josephson, voice
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi-Smith, koto
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
Diane Grubbe, flute
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe
Program Notes:
Ambient Bird - Live Oak 2022 is a 44-minute interspecies sonic landscape which reflects a philosophy of connecting with all living creatures and the environment. The ensemble includes the musicians of sfSOUND and others working with the sounds of the birds, the crickets, the creek and the trees of Live Oak Park.
The structure of this work can be described as a musical process which attempts to reflect nature’s manner of operations: sonic fragments of an African grey parrot become the cells of a spatially notated score to be interpreted and performed by the musicians within the ambient environment. Contextual in nature, the work allows performers to act according to unpredictable conditions and variables which arise within the musical continuity. In performance, an attempt is made at a spontaneous unforced growing of sound and silence in which emphasis is placed on formation rather than pre-established form, as in the building and shaping of cell-like units in living processes.
The first incantation of ambient bird entitled ‘ambient bird 433’, pays homage to John Cage’s composition 4’33”(1952). This fall equinox performance with sfSound celebrates its 70th-year anniversary.
*LOCATION OF PERFORMANCE: Live Oak Park 1301 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, just north of the recreation/theatre building, near the creek, under the trees.
There is no formal seating: stand and watch or wander, sit on the grass, ground, steps, distant picnic tables or bring your own chair/blanket
TIME OF PERFORMANCE: 6:30 - 7:14 PM
This performance is made possible with a grant from Innova and the city of Berkeley
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March 12, 2022:
*Center for New Music: Mills Grist 3/12/ 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKvnr16XXqg (27:40)
--
August 14, 2021
*Beyond Borders 3 august
*BEYOND BORDERS: BIRDS - IMPROVISATIONS - ENVIRONMENTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5te42oZpMLc&t=1432s
*SATURDAY AUGUST 14, 2021 - 8PM CENTER FOR NEW MUSIC
C4NM YOUTUBE CHANNEL
ENSEMBLES
Bird Ensemble #1:
Lulu, African Grey Parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube instrument
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba, voice
Bird Ensemble #2: an international group of musicians:
Thea Farhadian,violin (Berlin)
Barbara Golden, piano, tape (Nova Scotia)
Barbara Held, flute (Barcelona)
Silvia Matheus, electronics (Brazil)
Biggi Vinkeloe, alto saxophone (Sweden)
March 2021:
Birds Without Borders 2, premiere
ENSEMBLES
Bird Ensemble #1:
Lulu, African Grey Parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube instrument
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba, voice
Bird Ensemble #2: an international group of musicians:
Thea Farhadian,violin (Berlin)
Barbara Golden, piano, tape (Nova Scotia)
Barbara Held, flute (Barcelona)
Silvia Matheus, electronics (Brazil)
Biggi Vinkeloe, alto saxophone (Sweden)
Holy Names Faculty and Friends Recital March 2021
July 17, 2020:
Ambient Bird Online - Birds Without Borders, premiere
network music festival uk july 14-18 2020
July 17, 2020: Wendy Reid's Bird's Without Borders, Network Music Festival (Shelly Knotts), Charles Hutchins) UK, 12pm (PDT)
Network Music Festival July 14-18, 2020
Wendy Reid: Birds Without Borders
*Ambient Bird-Online: birds without borders Friday July 17 12pm (PDT)
Ambient Bird-Online: birds without borders
ENSEMBLES
Bird Ensemble #1:
Lulu, African Grey Parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube instrument
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba, voice
Bird Ensemble #2: an international group of musicians:
Thea Farhadian,violin (Berlin)
Barbara Golden, piano, tape (Nova Scotia)
Barbara Held, flute (Barcelona)
Silvia Matheus, electronics (Brazil)
Biggi Vinkeloe, alto saxophone (Sweden)
February 8, 2020:
*Bird Haiku, premiere 2/8/2020 (-the last live performance before covid)
Faculty and Friends:
Saturday, February 8, 2020 - 4:00pm, Holy Names University Studio Theater - Valley Performing Arts Center;
works by *Reid, Prokofiev, Lauro, Copland, Barber,Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Bizet
*Tree Piece #67 'bird haiku' for African Grey Parrot and open ensemble
bird haiku musicians:
Lulu, African Grey Parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube instrument
Krystyna Bobrowski, glisglas
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba, voice
June 21,2019:
Ambient Bird - garden of memory, premiere
(garden of memory, chapel of the chimes)
Garden of Memory Solstice Concert
June 21,2019 5-9pm
Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland
Lulu, African Grey Parrot
Wendy Reid , violin
Aurora Josephson, voice
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube instrument
Ron Heglin, tuba, voice
April 14, 2019
Ambient Bird 433
for African Grey Parrot and 3 open ensembles
AMBIENT BIRD 433
April 14, 2019:
*Ambient Bird 433 - Ogawa Plaza forum
Ambient Bird 433 4-14-2019
(photos: Andrew Aldrich)
Frank Ogawa Plaza Forum
ENSEMBLES:
Bird Ensemble (#1): Lulu, African Grey Parrot; Wendy Reid, violin; Krys Bobrowski, glissglass; Brenda Hutchinson, long tube instrument; Aurora Josephson, voice; Ron Heglin, tuba
Mills Contemporary Performance Ensemble (#2): Rodrigo Barriga, electric bass; Tony Gennaro, percussion; Eric Glick Rieman, melodica; Jake Parker Scott, saxophone; Mitch Stahlmann, flute; Jess Tambellini, trumpet; Maia Ziaee, voice; Steed Cowart, director
FROG POND 433 Ensemble (#3): Kattt Atchley, voice, laptop; Kenneth Atchley, laptop; Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi; Tom Bickley, recorder, electronics; John Bischoff, laptop; Tom Djll, trumpet; Barbara Golden, suir, suling; Silvia Matheus, bird whistles; Maggi Payne, flute, bird whistle; Tim Perkis, laptop; Brian Reinbolt, tweet-boxes
Ambient Bird 433 concert 4-14-19 (audio) (
video of Ambient Bird 433 performance 4-14-19
Lulu at Ogawa 4-14-19 (photos: Andrew Aldrich)
https://www.facebook.com/tbickley/videos/10156795217756834/
sfchronicle11-5-18ambientbird433
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/oakland-composer-birds-make-beautiful-music-togetherttp://treepieces.net/files/SFChronicle11-8-18edit.PDF
Rescheduled from 11/10/18 to 4/14/19:
Friday, October 19, 2018 8pm
Tree Piece #34 'frog ostinato' for oboe and percussion, with Kyle Bruckmann, oboe, Christopher Froh, percussion
Mondavi Arts Center, UC Davis Faculty, with other works by Elliot Carter, Lou Harrison, Du Yun, Liza Lim
Friday, November 2, 2018
Tree Pieces Window Gallery Opening 6-9pm, 150 Frank Ogawa Plaza
TREE PIECES: VISUAL SCORES-AMBIENT COLLAGE in the Window Gallery - Pro Arts, Oakland Nov.2 - 30; Opening Reception: Nov.2, 2018
https://proartsgallery.org/event/wendy-reid-tree-pieces-visual-scores-ambient-collage/
https://www.facebook.com/tbickley/videos/10156795217756834/
*Tree Piece visual score -read from bottom to top:
Tree Piece #66 AMBIENT BIRD 433 for African grey parrot and 3 open ensembles:
JUNE 21 chapel of the chimes: LULU with
Wendy Reid, Aurora Josephson, Brenda Hutchinson, Ron Heglin
Steed Cowart & Mills Contemporary Performance Ensemble:
Tree Piece #65 "lulu variations 4" (2017) premiere ‘for African Grey Parrot & the Mills Contemporary Performance Ensemble -
musicians:
Lulu (African Grey Parrot)
Wendy Reid (violin)
Soo Yeon Lyuh (haegeum)
Eric Glick Rieman (melodica)
Rodolfo Cordova (guitar)
Tony Genaro (percussion)
Michael Jones (percussion)
Naomi Harrison Clay (alto saxophone)
Kevin Schwenkler (baritone)
Lee Hodel (bass)
John Ivers (clarinet)
Isaac Hayes (bass clarinet)
Matthew Robidoux (guitar)
Jess Tambellini (trumpet)
Marc Zollinger (guitar)
Mills Contemporary Ensemble Concert directed by Steed Cowart, Littlefield Concert Hall, Mills College, Oakland, CA 11/29/2017
lulu at the chimes (2017)
Lulu at Turquoise Grotto (photo: D.Samas)
Lulu Variations Trio (2016) premiere for bird, violin and tuba, performed on ‘Music for Birdwatching’ at Turquiose Grotto
musicians:
Lulu (African Grey parrot)
Wendy Reid (violin)
Ron Heglin (trombone),
Turquoise Grotto, ‘Music for Birdwatching” (David Samas), San Francisco, CA 3/18/2016
Tree Piece visual scores -read from bottom to top:
tree piece #8 for solo persussion:
tree piece #2 for violin, percussion, and tape:
tree piece #10 for violin, percussion, and tape:
tree piece #17 for two or more instruments:
Tree Piece #21 for violin, percussion, and tape:
tree piece #31 for trumpet and percussion:
Tree Piece #34 for oboe, percussion, and tape:
