Trees.Listen

I Am Who I Am Records is proud to present, Trees.Listen, a new suite of music for harp and electronics by Canadian composers Frank Horvat and Sharlene Wallace.

There was a time when we knew how to listen to trees. This idea forms the cornerstone of this new album.

“These beautiful living sculptures in our landscapes patiently wait for us to stop and listen to their ancient secrets and wisdoms,” notes composer and harpist, Sharlene Wallace.

Trees.Listen is an immersive sonic journey, inspired by the profound knowledge of acclaimed botanist and climate change visionary Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger and her book, To Speak for the Trees. The soundscape comes to life with the intimate and evocative tones of the Celtic lever harp, fused with meticulously crafted electronic atmosphere. Experience the resonance of trees through the harp’s voice as every movement captures the spirit and wisdom of each tree. Trees.Listen is a musical storytelling experience that weaves the ancient past with modern sound design, offering a new way of “listening” to the planet.

This music is rooted in letters from the ancient Celtic Ogham script, a medieval alphabet that named each letter for a tree. This is how important trees were to the ancient Celts. Trees.Listen has chosen a musical alphabet note, A B C D E F G or H (B), to be the predominant note heard in each piece, connecting the music to the tree inspiring the letter name.

“By marrying the traditional harp with electronic textures, we’ve created a unique sonic landscape where the old and the new collide, reflecting our evolving relationship with nature. It’s about remembering that trees are more than just passive elements of nature—they’re living beings that have the power to heal and sustain us, both physically and spiritually.” – Frank Horvat, composer