Of genes, chromosomes and oratorios
Jenny Graves has spent her life mapping genes and comparing genomes. Now she’s created a musical opus about evolution of life on this planet — bringing the same drive and experimentalism she brought to the study of marsupial chromosomes.
Evolutionary geneticist and choral singer Jenny Graves has performed Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece, The Creation, on many occasions. The famous oratorio chronicles the seven days of biblical creation as described in the Book of Genesis. Yet Graves, who has spent the past 60 years studying the wonders of evolution, grew tired of singing about Adam and Eve. So she penned a secular retelling of our origin story — drawing from scientific discoveries in cosmology, molecular biology, evolutionary genetics, ecology and anthropology — and teamed up with a poet and a composer to bring the 110-minute choral work to fruition.
The piece, Origins of the Universe, of Life, of Species, of Humanity, is bold, compelling and funny, much like Graves. One of its most provocative verses, “No cosmic hand guides diversity,” comes early in the seventh movement. A chorister protested, suggesting she revise the wording to be more allegorical or vague. “I don’t want it to be vague,” Graves recalls saying. “I want the origin from science — and science is what I’m going to use.” One tenor left during rehearsals, telling Graves they couldn’t sing something they didn’t believe in. She smiled her disarming smile and responded, “Oh, why not? We do that all the time. Do you believe in Santa Claus?”
