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| Percussionist Susie Ibarra plays traditional Philippine instrument, the kulintang. |
The Philippines' rain forests and mountains provided the inspiration for a Filipino American musician's composition that won this year's Pulitzer Prize in Music.
Susie Ibarra, 54, went back to her roots to win a Pulitzer. Herwork about ecosystems and biodiversity interwoven through her musicianship and improvisations skills resulted in Sky Islands, a musical tribute to the Philippines rich and fragile ecosystem Filipino American goes back to her roots to win a Pulitzer Prize, a prestigious award given annually
Since 1917, the Pulitzer Prize is awarded annually to recognize excellence in journalism, literature, and music.
Ibarra’s Sky Islands draws sonic inspiration from the broadleaf forest ecoregion of northern Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines archipelago. Her musical tribute to the rich and fragile Philippine ecosystems features the interlocking rhythms and melodies of Philippine Northern style bamboo, gong, and flute music, performed on new sound sculptures of gong metals titled Floating Gardens.
The title of her work, Sky Islands, refers to the mountaintops of Luzon's mountainous region. “Sky islands” are distinct ecosystems at high altitude ranges, known for becoming hotspots for biodiversity and unusual forms of life. Geographically isolated with few or no outside predators, sky islands are home to many species of small mammals that don’t exist anywhere else in the world,
Her Pulitzer-winning composition is a musical call to action, highlighting Luzon’s rainforests—an endangered region with 31 endemic species. “Sky islands” are distinct ecosystems at high altitude ranges, known for becoming hotspots for biodiversity and unusual forms of life. Geographically isolated with few or no outside predators, sky islands are home to many species of small mammals that don’t exist anywhere else in the world, making them wondrous areas where we can see evolution “sped up.”
Born in Anaheim, California, Ibarra is the founder of Susie Ibarra Studio and, with artist-musician and engineer Jake Landau, the label and publisher Habitat Sounds. Ibarra leads several ensembles including Talking Gong Trio.
Sky Islands premiered on July 18, 2024 at the Asia Society, New York, N.Y. The composition will have its West Coast premiere on the June 8 program of the Ojai Music Festival.
Ibarra’s Sky Islands draws sonic inspiration from the broadleaf forest ecoregion of northern Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines archipelago. Her musical tribute to the rich and fragile Philippine ecosystems features the interlocking rhythms and melodies of Philippine Northern style bamboo, gong, and flute music, performed on new sound sculptures of gong metals titled Floating Gardens.
The title of her work, Sky Islands, refers to the mountaintops of Luzon's mountainous region. “Sky islands” are distinct ecosystems at high altitude ranges, known for becoming hotspots for biodiversity and unusual forms of life. Geographically isolated with few or no outside predators, sky islands are home to many species of small mammals that don’t exist anywhere else in the world,
Her Pulitzer-winning composition is a musical call to action, highlighting Luzon’s rainforests—an endangered region with 31 endemic species. “Sky islands” are distinct ecosystems at high altitude ranges, known for becoming hotspots for biodiversity and unusual forms of life. Geographically isolated with few or no outside predators, sky islands are home to many species of small mammals that don’t exist anywhere else in the world, making them wondrous areas where we can see evolution “sped up.”
Born in Anaheim, California, Ibarra is the founder of Susie Ibarra Studio and, with artist-musician and engineer Jake Landau, the label and publisher Habitat Sounds. Ibarra leads several ensembles including Talking Gong Trio.
Sky Islands premiered on July 18, 2024 at the Asia Society, New York, N.Y. The composition will have its West Coast premiere on the June 8 program of the Ojai Music Festival.
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