A Story About a River

I live just a couple blocks from the Huron River. If you’re a regular reader, you may know something about my fondness for it. I cross it almost every day either on foot or by car or bicycle. I paddle my kayak on it. I like to stand in the middle of the Forest Street bridge and watch the river’s progress through Frog Island Park. I was born on a bluff overlooking the Huron at old St. Joe’s in Ann Arbor, and for most of my life have lived within a few miles of some segment of it. It’s my home river.

Earlier this year I was asked to compose a piece of music for the Huron River Watershed Council, Southeast Michigan’s oldest environmental group. I’ve worked with them before, many years ago, when Great Lakes Myth Society was hired to play at a couple of their fundraisers. They’ve been stewards of the river for over half a century. My friend Donald Harrison was hired to film a short video celebrating HRWC’s 60th anniversary, and he collected hours of gorgeous river footage which was whittled down into this succinct three-minute piece for which I provided the soundtrack. Donald’s wife, Jeanne Hodesh, came onboard to do the voice-over which we recorded in a makeshift vocal booth at my house. It’s a collaboration with people I love, made sweeter by the fact that it promotes a cause very close to my heart. We need the HRWC and groups like them now, more than ever.