Anna-Maria Kellen Lecture

Music and the Anthropocene

Is an exploration of “listening” while the world is on fire not the equivalent of rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic? Can something that often entertains us shed light on something that should deeply concern us? In this talk, Alexander Rehding offers some not-so-obvious answers through what he calls “eco-musicology.” Against the backdrop of current ecological thought, Rehding examines a few recent examples of music that actively raise awareness and attempt to change behavior. If we learn how to listen properly, he says, we may collectively have a chance of survival.