Cowposition: A Serenade for the Cows

October 8, 2023

An improvised soundbath by Laraaji and Nadi Burton

Dance performance by Catherine Kirk, Dasol Kim, Dan Santiago and Treasure Brooks (Sol)

Photos: Melchizedek Gayle and Ben Solomon

This was a serenade for the cattle, a composition for the cows. The herd is a vital part of our operation, keeping the pastures well-tended and ultimately providing our community members, who often lack access to nutrient-dense, responsibly-raised meat, with invaluable protein. As our most productive vegetable season came to a close, our herd - most of whom were pregnant this year- continued to graze. So as Fall fell, we wanted to make a grand gesture of our thanks.

As our (secondary) human audience immersed themselves in a celestial soundscape of zither and flute led by legendary artist Laraaji and his longtime collaborator and friend Nadi Burton, we encouraged them to notice how their muscles relaxed, the speed of their thoughts shifted, the elements around them felt potent and alive. Humans have a physiological response to music, and it changes depending on tempo, volume and consistency. Cows, being animals not so unlike us, respond similarly. There have been a number of studies, some more official than others, that have explored the undeniable attraction that cows have to music. Many farmers know this without a scientist telling them so, and will play music during milking sessions to increase letdown. We do not have dairy cows here at the farm, but the concept remains relevant: lactation goes up because an animal is relaxed. Beyond the benefits to lactation, cows seem to be generally drawn to a place where this kind of music is playing and often show signs of lessened agitation, and in some cases (like when they’re listening to lullabies), they become so relaxed that they actually fall asleep.

We could think of no artist better suited to creating an enveloping sonic experience of joyful, musical meditation for a pregnant herd of cows than Laraaji, made all the more impactful by Nadi on flute. Together they improvised a sonic space for spiritual and bodily nourishment for bovine and human alike over the course of four straight hours. Accompanying them on the grass beside the stage was a group of dancers - Catherine Kirk, Treasure Faith Brooks (Sol), Dan Santiago and Dasol Kim - who each have a personal way of processing their work through animals and landscapes. They interpreted what the cows might have been experiencing through movement, and were dressed mostly in yellows and blues, as cows perceive the world through variations of these hues.

This performance was made possible in part through a grant by the Mellon Foundation.