Natural Melodies: Creating a Noteworthy Arrangement

Explore the Museum through Music

Together, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) are bringing the Museum galleries alive. “Natural Melodies: Creating a Noteworthy Arrangement” is a collection of original compositions, created exclusively for the Museum.

Margaret Brouwer, head of CIM’s Composition Department, selected seven students to compose brief works that reflect each of the Museum’s galleries. The project began with an extensive behind-the-scenes tour led by Museum Executive Director Dr. Bruce Latimer, who helped the student composers understand how the galleries reveal the secrets of the natural world to Museum visitors.
 
The students then spent months evolving and preparing their work, weaving a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature into every expression. It is an intimate collection of evocative pieces that brings a new and unique sensory awareness to the museum experience.

Experience it for Yourself

The collaboration premiered during an evening reception at the Museum. Each composition was performed in the gallery that inspired its creation.

For your enjoyment, the students’ original music is now featured on the iPod® audio tours of the Museum’s galleries.  It is also available for download, as well as at www.cim.edu.

If you bring your MP3 music device with one of the compostions from “Natural Melodies: Creating a Noteworthy Arrangement” already downloaded, you will receive a special $2 discount off one general admission. 

A CD recording of the compositions, complete with the artists’ inspiration statements and biographies, is available for purchase in the Museum Store.


“Natural Melodies: Creating a Noteworthy Arrangement” is made possible through the generous support of the Kulas Foundation.

Special thanks to Margaret Brouwer, Cleveland Institute of Music Compostion Department Head; Susan Schwartz, Cleveland Institute of Music Director of Marketing & Communications; Alex Kosiorek, Cleveland Institute of Music Director of Recording Services; and Marie Graf, Cleveland Museum of Natural History Director of Marketing & Communications.