THE rivers are our brothers

The Rivers are our Brothers is a song cycle on ecological responsibility told from the perspective of the land. Each song in the cycle takes on a first-person view of nature, ascribing human qualities and feelings to elements of the landscape: trees, mountains, and rivers. The title of the cycle is based on an apocryphal quote from the Native American leader, Chief Seattle, who believed we must relate to our environment as we relate to our closest kin.

Rivers SATB scores are now available for licensing. Please inquire for details.

Connery recently released a new album of Rivers are our Brothers recorded at at the legendary Electrical Audio in Chicago, and released on Bowerbird Records). Stream the album on Spotify or Apple Music

"The goal of this music is to give nature a voice —to allow these vibrant things to speak on their own behalf.”

The Rivers are our Brothers was originally commissioned by Musica Sierra, an educational nonprofit in the Sierra Valley, CA that uses music to teach children better land stewardship, complete with musical field journals and other curricula. The cycle premiered at the Nevada Museum of Art as a trio for voice, violin and bassoon (Majel Connery, Edwin Huizinga, Ben Matus), and has since toured the country as a duo with cellist Felix Fan; a trio for violin, cello and voice (Bowerbird Collective); and in a 12-part choral arrangement for Grammy-winning choir, Chanticleer. Choirs around the world are currently performing the SATB arrangements, which will be engraved spring 2026.