Landscapes in the Time of Covid

Students of Professor Wayne Wild

For some years now, I have been teaching a course entitled, “Landscape and Identity.” The concept of the course is to have students recognize how the landscapes we experience throughout our lives so intensely affects our identity – our internal landscape that we carry with us in our everyday life. We focus on landscapes that remain “special” to us, and then those that might have “spiritual” significance, those landscapes related to water, to city, to landscapes that are culturally meaningful, as well as the imaginary landscapes of film and literature, fantasy, utopian/dystopian landscapes – all part of the make-up of who we are. And the goal, is to use landscapes to express our personal feelings and concerns without resorting to the tantalizing use of “I” in lyrics or other creative endeavors. In a final project, I ask students to take a photograph of a landscape and then create lyrics (or poem) from that landscape, and in small groups create musical arrangement to support the “feeling” the landscape conveys. So here are a few examples from our time in Covid quarantine. And so fine they are!
It’s late, I walk alone

was produced by Anni Yang (orchestration) with Bridget Bullard (Conservatory) and both vocalists, Eshu Deva and James Solomon contributing to the lyrics.

It’s late.
I walk alone,
amidst the scenic beauty of a city landscape at night,
in a state of fear and trepidation.

The air is still.
Damp.
Heavy.
There’s a tightness in my chest that’s making it harder and harder
to breathe.
I swallow the lump in my throat and keep walking.

One earbud in, one out
Trying to stay aware of my surroundings
Not paying attention to the sparkle of the Christmas lights
in the tree-lined streets
But my eyes still darting in all directions

Firmly grabbing my turquoise pepper spray
Fearful of the footsteps and movements in the white noise around me
The voices within my head making me stray

I wish I could stop and take in all of the scenery
But the goal is just to make it home.

I’ve never seen the rainbow of lights reflecting upon the Esplanade at night
I’m too hyper fixated on a million different dangers
I miss the best parts of the city
Stickers with puns on them cleverly taped to street and stop signs

The foot pain that comes along with walking all the way
to Cambridge and back
The joy of napping in the public gardens and letting the sun hit your face while the sound of dogs barking and music playing can be heard all around you.

It’s late.
I walk alone,
amidst the scenic beauty of a city landscape at night,
in a state of fear and trepidation.

Snow City

produced by Gabryl Adarne (bass and lyrics) with Elle Dodaro (vocals) with Alexandria Gartland (vocals and lyrics), Anthony Wood (chords, instrumental, piano, mixing).

take a breath
just when they reach your eyes
the night is new
it’s just us two
with all the streets in line
everytime the transit sings
we play our song
watching as the stops go by
where will we end up tonight

way past 11 you’re dancing in the streets
with me
subways are closing, but we’ll take our time
only tonight is you and i

empty seats
endless views
go way beyond the sea
stereo
on repeat
as moonlight kisses your cheek
swimming through the ocean breeze
your watch says 3
you ask me with your eyes so bright
“where will we end up tonight?”

Love Me Now

was produced by Kammeron Frost (vocals) with Ben McAvene (guitar, melody), Max Adams (bass), and Zander Silverstein (keys and drums).

Our shadows hide behind the objects thats in sight
The sky falls beneath the waves that stay so quiet
The sun giving us its last light while going down
Say you love me now

Mmm the lights down low
And the tv, it aint on
To keep you mind free
And your eyes right on me

Our shadows hide behind the objects thats in sight
The sky fall beneath the waves that stay so quiet
The sun giving us its last light
While going down
Say you love me now

Hidden Metropolis

production and lyrics by Clay Sherrill (harmony), Uma Dowd, and Alyssa Fabian (vocals/melody). Uma conceived the idea of “hidden metropolis” theme.

Verse 1

Subway cars snake through the underground
People scurrying to find their way around
Busy worrying if they’ve been out too late
The outskirts of this town are dangerous and quite rundown
Streets lined with artwork, uninvited and profane

Pre-Chorus

You wouldn’t believe it was utopia if you were looking from above
Dew drips off of every high-rise spire and slips across each telephone wire
Reflection of light off the leaves
Searching for something more substantial
Hoping possibly a brush with fame or a stroke of genius might brighten the lights of the
lamp posts

Chorus

What lies beyond this brick blockade?
Is it utopia or the pin on an unblown grenade?
If you were to look through a microscope
Perhaps it would be as clear as day
Beneath this gravel facade
A metropolis is hidden away