Within the weeks leading up to Earth Day, The Get Down will be featuring a series about the Common Ground Symposium at Ramapo College. Common Ground  is a two day event held on April 22 and 23  featuring a variety of speakers and musical performances to showcase how humans connect to nature through music and art.

Among the panelists is David Rothenberg, an esteemed writer and ecological authority, also known for his experimental music with natural elements. Incorporating his improv jazz clarinet peices with recordings of whales, birds, and more, he bridges the world between the earth and the electronic. His release, Whale Music, was recently remixed with other noted electronic artists such as Scanner, DJ Spooky,  Robert Rich, and Ben Neill. Rothenberg and Neill will be performing their improv pieces on April 23 at 3:30.

Also on the panels is Joel Chadabe, a professor at  Manhattan School of Music and  Director of Ear to the Earth, a network of environmental activists incorporating natural music to promote their cause. Chadabe has a long history in improv music, and avant garde composition. He recently arranged electronic interactive symphonies generated by environmental sounds, and will be speaking about his work at 3 pm on April 22.

The event is entirely organized by Emmy Black, who felt compelled to address the idea "that if we're destroying our natural world are we destroying our human psyche as well?  Common Ground's goal is to reconnect humans to nature with music and art . Humans experience everything through frequencies and vibrations so music is an inherent part of how we relate to our world." With this in mind, the Common Ground Symposium will be one of the most unique and eye opening Earth Day celebrations.

Follow up posts on The Get Down will also feature interviews with the panelists, so check back for more.