American Premiere of the Why Birds Sing BBC Documentary at the Van Brunt Gallery in Beacon

Cold Spring's David Rothenberg's Why Birds Sing has been turned into an 80- minute BBC documentary, directed by Archie Powell and produced by Endemol/UK.

It was shown four times on BBC4 last July, but not yet on American TV. The film will be shown for the first time in America at the Van Brunt Gallery at 460 Main St. in Beacon, Sat. Feb. 9 at 8pm, free of charge.

Why Birds Sing contains a rich mix of science, philosophy, ornithology, music and performance. The documentary explores the intriguing, charming, complex and often conflicting theories on why these little creatures sing like they do- and why we, as humans are so attracted to the music of nature.

Jarvis Cocker, Beth Orton, Laurie Anderson and Juana Molina are among the surprising characters featuring in this weird and wonderful journey into the mystery of birdsong.

Bird song scientists on screen include Don Kroodsma, Ofer Tchernichovski, Erich Jarvis, and Peter Slater, to say nothing of Simon Barnes, author of How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher? and Joe Sodano, the turkey impersonator champion of New Jersey.

The streets of Cold Spring and the Glynwood Center also feature in a few scenes.

The film culminates in the creation of a unique musical composition combining human music with birdsong. Produced at Real World Studios by Simon Emmerson of the Afro-Celt Sound System, and composer Richard Evans, the piece features contributions from Peter Gabriel, Guillemots, Kate St John, and David Rothenberg (as well as a Stonechat, a Butcher bird, a Hoopoe, a Woodpecker and an Eider duck).

The Van Brunt Gallery in Beacon presents the American Premiere of this program, with special guests from the show on hand to discuss after the show art and science may fit together to figure out just why and what birds sing.

Michael Pestel, Ofer Tchernichovski, and David Rothenberg will be on hand to discuss the program immediately after the show.