Evenings at the Homestead: The ClimateMusic Project

In the first "Evenings at the Homestead" event of the 2024-25 season, SCCF will host a live performance from San Francisco-based The ClimateMusic Project. Climate — an original composition by Erik Ian Walker that tracks historical and projected variations in the climate system — will use synced animation and music to tell the urgent story of climate change in a way that resonates, educates, and motivates. 

The event will take place under the pavilion at SCCF's Bailey Homestead Preserve, located at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL. Following the performance, there will be a Q&A with Erik Ian Walker, the musicians, and scientists.

Climate tells the story of climate change from 1800 to 2250, following two possible scenarios for the future. It predominantly tracks “business as usual,” in which we do little or nothing to rein in carbon emissions. The second scenario represents a more hopeful “2 degree” scenario under which society succeeds in reining in emissions during the first half of this century. It was composed by identifying four key climate change indicators and assigning each a musical analog:

• Carbon dioxide concentration is reflected in the tempo of the composition
• Near Earth atmospheric temperature is represented by pitch
• Earth energy balance (the balance between incoming energy from the sun and outgoing heat from the Earth) changes are audible as distortion
• Ocean pH is represented by compositional form

“The music of Climate has a powerful impact; hearing and feeling it gives you an understanding of the issues from your core, in a way that looking at a chart simply does not achieve. It’s a must-listen,” says SCCF Adult Education Director Jenny Evans.