A couple of weeks ago here at Interlochen Center for the Arts, the World Youth Symphony Orchestra performed Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, ”From the New World.” And this week, the melody from the largo movement has become an ear worm.
In her program notes, Amanda Sewell had made it clear that “Going Home” was not spiritual (as I had been taught), but nevertheless, I hear lyrics in my head, especially this time each year because our migratory birds soon will be going home.
It’s an arduous and dangerous journey. But in the winter months at this latitude, although some birds live here year-round, those that feed on aquatic plants and animals, insects and fruit, simply cannot find the resources they need to survive. So they make their winter homes in the southern states or the tropics and even beyond where resources are available.
So the question is — and this is still being researched and debated — why would they leave their southern homes in late spring and make the strenuous and treacherous flight to the north?
Again, it seems to be about resources. If all of the birds stayed in their southern homes during their breeding season, there would not be enough nesting sites nor would there be enough food resources to feed their offspring.
In contrast, abundant insect hatches, summer caterpillars, aquatic plants and animals, and fruit plus extra hours of daylight apparently make the rather brief interlude in the north worth the extreme effort. So, birds come here.
Here they sing. They dance. They create intricate nests. And they teach these arts to their young.
While some of the Interlochen staff and faculty live here year-round, most of us migrate here each summer. We make music. We dance. We create art. Perhaps most importantly, we teach the young.
“Going home, going home.” At the crack of the baton: “Real life has begun, I’m just going home.”
