summit (for tenor saxophone & fixed electronics) 2021
PROGRAM NOTES
summit noun
sum·mit | \ ˈsə-mət \
- the highest point
- a conference of highest-level officials (such as heads of government)
In New York City on 23 September 2019 was the United Nations Climate Action Summit. With global emissions reaching record levels, all the UN leaders were called to attend the summit and arrive with a climate action plan. Just a few days before the summit, the Global Climate Strike was held around the world with over four million participants. Teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg gave a speech. She stated, “you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you...you have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.”
As an attendee of their local climate strike, composer Megan Harton chose to write a piece inspired by this action and the further actions that are needed to save our planet. The title summit is not only a reference to the UN Climate Action Summit but also to how the climate crisis is reaching a record high. Utilizing samples from various public broadcasts and speeches on climate action and field recordings, with this piece the composer hopes to inspire the audience to think about the sustainability of their everyday actions and how they contribute to our changing climate.
- Megan Harton (2021)