California Suite by Kian Ravaei

*** 100% of proceeds donated to Audubon California, a non-profit dedicated to bird and wildlife conservation. ***

Composer Kian Ravaei's California Suite is a work for flute and piano that borrows melodies from endangered California birdsongs. Through his music, Ravaei adds his voice to those demanding the protection of California’s natural ecosystems.

“I wanted to memorialize these endangered California birds in order to raise awareness for the effects that climate change is having on their species,” said Ravaei.

Each movement in California Suite addresses the unique qualities of a particular birdsong, from the flowing tune of Least Bell’s Vireo to the rapid chirps of the California Black Rail. Ravaei modeled the piece after the musical tradition of Baroque dance suites, such as those by J.S. Bach — but with a modern, conservation-minded twist.

“As a young Boy Scout from Los Angeles, I experienced the diversity of California’s wilderness firsthand,” said Ravaei. “I hope this music will awaken the same sense of wonder I felt camping among the wildlife of Death Valley, Yosemite, and Catalina Island.”

Whether composing piano preludes inspired by mythical creatures, flute melodies that mimic the songs of endangered birds, or a string quartet that draws from the Iranian music of his ancestral heritage, composer Kian Ravaei takes listeners on a spellbinding tour of humanity’s most deeply-felt emotions.

kianravaei.com