Arts and Music (Audio)

A vocalist of extraordinary emotional power and authenticity, Daneen Wilburn opens the fall Intersections Concert Series with an evening rooted in gospel tradition, soul expression, and personal testimony. Having performed since childhood, Wilburn brings a voice shaped by both spiritual tradition and lived experience. Her celebrated return to the stage after raising her family has made her one of...

Photography makes environmental changes visible that are difficult to recognize in everyday life. James Balog, Founder and Director of the Earth Vision Institute, describes his shift from celebrating nature’s beauty to documenting how human activity reshapes the planet. His photographs range from endangered wildlife and towering trees to mines, wildfires, and the atmosphere above Earth. Through th...

UC Davis students are experiencing Shakespeare's plays in a new world — a virtual world. English professor Gina Bloom is teaching “Interactive Shakespeare: From VR to AI,” a class where students learn about Shakespeare and perform his plays in the virtual reality game "Play the Knave VR." Watch as students act out a scene from "Romeo and Juliet" in the virtual world. Series: "UC Davis News" [Human...

Authentic autism representation begins with listening to autistic people and including them in stories about their lives. Seth Bakke, producer, writer and director of The Rescue, explains how his autistic cousin Aaron and a poem by autistic typer Peter Tran inspired the film. Bakke describes working with Aaron on screen, consulting the Tran family and adapting the set to support his needs. Autisti...

Art can connect personal history, community, and social change. Janelle Iglesias, Assistant Professor of Studio Art at UC San Diego, traces her path from a multicultural childhood in Queens to anthropology, ceramics, sculpture, and public art. She explains how objects in her family home sparked an interest in material culture, and how a reconciliation program in South Africa changed her view of wh...

Latin dance is a living blend of rhythms, histories, and styles, and Araceli Cervantes approaches it as both cultural practice and personal craft. Cervantes is an actress and dancer whose love for the arts began early and continues to shape her work. Drawing on training that spans Mexican traditional dance as well as contemporary and Latin forms, she brings both technique and joy to performance. A...

A documentary film celebrating the work, wit and wisdom of internationally acclaimed glass paperweight artist Paul J. Stankard. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41122]

Considered the godfather of A.I. music, UC Santa Cruz professor and composer David Cope, who died in May, 2025, developed the computer program EMI, or Experiments in Musical Intelligence, in the 1980s. It was one of the earliest computer algorithms used to generate classical music. This documentary film by UC Santa Cruz's Bob Giges looks at the impact of Cope's genius on the world of music. Series...

Join Greg, UC Davis staff photographer, as he embarks on an 8 a.m. (or rather, 5 a.m.) photoshoot! Get a behind-the-scenes look at being a university photographer, capturing moments around campus and waking up at ungodly hours to get the perfect shot. With a whistle and a witty joke, Greg explains what it means to take professional photos. Series: "UC Davis News" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41051]

On this glorious evening flight captured by astronauts abroad the ISS, we see Earth in all her glory with clouds, night lights and shimmering Aurora. The music is composed and sung by Samantha Tauber, aka VNCCII, who shares her message of hope and love for Earth. Like the astronauts, we must learn to see Earth as a whole, and do the serious work to care for our home and for our future, with hope a...

Organist Brian Hoffman performs Bach’s Canonic Variations (BWV 769), Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her (“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”), in this masterful recording. To accompany the music, we revisit stunning Earth photography drawn from 50 Earth Serenade films featuring views of the Caribbean, the Sahara, the Aurora, the Pacific, and breathtaking sunsets. Together, the music and images celeb...

We travel abroad the ISS at with these images of Europe to the Red Sea at night. The music is the wonferfully joyous Sinfonia from Bach’s Cantata 29, performed by organist David von Behren at First Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Series: "Earth Serenade" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40988]

Nature's fury can be devastating on Earth. Typhoon Nepartak over the South China Sea in 2016 caused severe damage and deaths in China, Taiwan and the Phillipines. Yet seen from the International Space Station, the typhoon looks surprisingly serene. These artfully photographed images from astronauts aboard ISS 48 are set to the music of Catherine Brisset and her cristal Baschet, a unique glass keyb...

Rivers shape the Earth, and music shapes our soul. In this lovely, serene flight aboard the ISS, we trace the sinuous paths of inter-playing rivers, from inland North America to the Gulf of Mexico. Sit back and enjoy the journey, with music by Nathan Gunn. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40973]

Take a stunning journey across Earth as seen from space, captured by the astronauts of ISS 69 on July 30, 2023. This film soars over the Greek islands, Turkey’s rolling mountains, cloud-covered Ukraine, the Volga River flowing into the Caspian Sea, and a glowing sunset over Mongolia. The breathtaking visuals are set to music by Steve Thomas Guitar, featuring tracks adapted from his Folktales and F...

In their 2020 documentary series Move, French filmmakers Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai take viewers on a tour of the world of dance, shining a spotlight on the artists that shape the art of movement. In this program, UCSB's Stephanie Batiste talks with Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, who have shown throughout their careers that street dance is a form of high art - with artistry and originality. Ser...

Enjoy the beautiful and meditative music of Johann Sebastian Bach's Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende (“Who knows how near to me is my end”). The music is conducted by Rudolf Lutz with the Chor & Orchester der J. S. Bach-Stiftung, and is set to images from various astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40952]

Kuiyi Shen, Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at UC San Diego, offers a fascinating look at Japanese art during the Nara period, a golden age of court culture. He explores the Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji in Nara, from its monumental bronze casting to the throne imagery depicting the Western Paradise. Shen highlights the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) and their symbolic armor, influenced...

As part of the Earth Serenade series, enjoy Johannes Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem (Opus 45). This powerful music is performed by the Orchester & Chor of J. S. Bach-Stiftung in Switzerland. The music is set to images of Earth taken from the International Space Station, sending messages of mortality, hope and redemption. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40881]

Earth Serenade presents some July 4th fireworks with exuberant and playful dance between violinist Angie Shyr and alto saxphonist Chris Cheek as we fly over the deep browns and reds of Sahara followed by night views of the Mediterranean. The images are from ISS 67. Enjoy this wonderful collection of Earth and music. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40880]

As part of the Earth Serenade series, enjoy this lovely and ethereal blend of music by Steve Thomas with a night pass over Sahara from the International Space Station. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40879]

As part of our Earth Serenade series, we present Stardust Sinfonie from BachFest, the annual gathering of musicians and fans in Bach’s hometown of Leipzig, Germany. The music is performed by Stardust Sinfonie, a German trio of flute, harpsichord and vibraphone. In this piece, Andrei Pushkarov performs Bach's Prelude in C Sharp minor. Images are from the crew of ISS 48. Series: "Arts Channel " [Art...

As part of our Earth Serenade series, we present Earth Motets, a glorious feature-length movie made for BachFest, the annual gathering of musicians and fans in Bach’s hometown of Leipzig, Germany. The music is performed by Solomon's Knot paired with images taken by astronauts Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nicole Mann and Jeanette Epps aboard the International Space Station. Series: "Arts Channel " [A...

As part of our Earth Serenade series, we present music by Dwayne Haggins & Friends to accompany these beautiful images of Earth taken by the crew of ISS 65. The song "I Get Sad" evokes honest emotions as we watch the dancing aurora and night clouds. “Where it Wants” follows rivers, mountains and a hurricane. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40873]

How arrogant of humans to think we make the only music! As we fly over the Pacific coast of California and Mexico, let’s listen to the sounds of whales, dolphins, snapping shrimp and more, recorded in those same waters. The view from above comes from the astronauts of ISS 53. The sounds from below courtesy of the Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Program, Macaulay Library of Cornell University,...