Somewhere near the Majestic Oak (2025), Christine Lee

Somewhere near the Majestic Oak (2025) is an immersive soundscape inspired by the California Botanic Garden. The piece traces a sonic journey from the entrance of the North SoCal garden to the quiet presence of the Majestic Oak, weaving together and transforming sounds encountered along the way. Passing airplanes, bird calls, and even the faint hum and mechanical noise of nearby industry are interlaced, creating a dialogue between the natural and the human-made. Through this musical exploration, the listener is invited to experience the shifting acoustic environment that unfolds across the garden’s landscape.

Christine Lee is an eclectic composer, a musical poet, a multi-cultural artist currently based in Southern California. Christine Lee’s music is described as “bold and futuristic” with “strong rumbling in the lower registers alternated with softer stretches ...with powerful electronic sounds that increases with great energy and dynamism...”(Sequenza 21). She composes for unlimited projects in concert music, film, game, visual media, and dance. Her music produces a surrealistic and ambient atmosphere while driven by high energy and rhythms with a mixture of electronics. As a professional, classically trained pianist and keyboardist, she also performs various styles of music such as rock, jazz, classical, electronic music, etc.

The North So. Cal Gardens are home to the Open Vessel sculpture, Forest Pavillion, Tongva Village, and Majestic Oak.