Farming
With four Grammys and ten nominations, The Crossing takes a new direction with Ted Hearne's FARMING. In his new work, Hearne — the two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist praised by Pitchfork for creating “some of the most expressive socially engaged music in recent memory” — confronts technology’s ominous encroachment upon humanity’s very being. FARMING tackles the long-tail impact of settler colonialism and its philosophical motivations on agricultural degradation.
Hearne dives headfirst into the Uncanny Valley, conjuring a soundworld fraught with neck-breaking shifts and stylistic contradictions. Its unholy marriage of ersatz Americana, digitally altered choral arrangements, and hyperpop’s synapse-frying maximalism inverts technology’s smoothing impulses in favor of an unwieldy, knotty expression of modern ennui and alienation.
Upon its 2023 live performance debut, The New York Times called FARMING “a suggestive, chaotically ambitious, often poignant reflection on colonization, consumption, marketing, entrepreneurship.” It’s certainly intellectually audacious: In repurposing primary texts from William Penn and Jeff Bezos, FARMING contends with the mythological constructs humans erect to justify their participation in an economy’s unfeeling entropies — and reveals the ethical void at their core.
Farming
for choir and mixed ensemble
words and music by Ted Hearne
Commissioned by The Crossing and Donald Nally with major support from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from Carol Westfall, Laurie and Jeff Franz, and The Josephine & Lester Hensley Family Trust.
a note from the composer:
FARMING speculates a new corporation, powered by quasi-religious fervor and a company-wide investment in the belief that their mission, when actualized, will create a new and better world for all people.
The founding fathers of FARMING are William Penn and Jeff Bezos. Penn's letters from 1681–83, to and about the inhabitants of the land he was in the process of 'founding' in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, outline a model for compassionate colonization. Public addresses of Jeff Bezos from 2006 and 2020, announcing Amazon's Mechanical Turk "crowdsourcing marketplace" and defending Amazon's track of corporate expansion, speak to the empowerment of everyday individuals to work hard and follow their calling.
The 24 vocalists in FARMING sing these words in conversation with one another, juxtaposed with texts drawn from modern advertising copy: the 2020 Twitter feed of UberEats, the customer loyalty program of Farmer's Fridge, and Google search results for an organization that will help employers process H-2A visas for temporary agricultural workers.
1. We’re Back
We’re back
We’re back
To your door.
We’re back.
You can now
Delivered
To your door
We’re back.
You can now
Order the
Items delivered
To your door
We’re back.
You can now
Order the food you’ve
Essential
Items delivered
To your door
We’re back.
You can now
Order the food you’ve
Missed from the
And still get
Essential
Items delivered
To your door
We’re back.
You can now
Order the food you’ve
Missed from the
Restaurants you
Love
And still get
Essential
Items delivered
To your door
We’re back.
You can now
Order the food you’ve
Missed from the
Restaurants you
Love.
– Uber Eats | Facebook Post: May 1, 2020 at 12:00am
2. Microwork
My friends
There is one great God and power
That has made the world and all things therein,
To whom you and I and all people owe their being
And well-being
And to whom you and I must one day give an account
For all that we do in this world.
Think of it as microwork
This great God
Hath written his law in our hearts
By which we are taught
And commanded
To love and help and do good to one another
And not to do harm and mischief unto one another.
Mechanical Turk
Is focused on making it possible
For you to code human intelligence
Inside a software application
Now this great God
Has been pleased
To make me concerned
In your parts of the world.
And to do it in very small units
And the king of the country where I live
Has given unto me a great province therein.
But I desire to enjoy it
With your love and consent.
Think of it as microwork
That we may always live together
As neighbors and friends,
Else what would the great God say to us
Who has made us not to devour and destroy one another
But live soberly and kindly together in the world
So
For a penny
You might pay someone
To tell you whether there is
A human in a photo
I would have you well observe
That I am very sensible
For two pennies
You might pay someone
To tell you whether there is
One detail page for each product
I would have you well observe
That I am very sensible
We don’t want to have
Two detail pages for a product
With millions of detail pages,
This can often get out of sync
I would have you well observe
That I am very sensible
Of the unkindness and injustice
That has been too much exercised towards you,
We can be fairly confident
By the people of these parts of the world
And to make great advantages by you
Rather than be examples
That two detail pages
Of justice and goodness unto you,
Which I hear
Hath been matter of trouble to you,
Algorithmically
And caused great grudgings and animosities,
Algorithmically
Sometimes to the shedding of blood,
Are duplicates
Which hath made the great God angry
Are duplicates
We can be fairly confident
But I am not such a man
We can never be certain
But I am not such a man
We can never be certain
We can use our software
To narrow the field
As is well known in my own country.
Find two candidates
That are probably duplicates
I have great love and regard towards you
Then use Mechanical Turk
To make the call
And I desire to win
And gain your love
Mechanical Turk
And friendship
To make the call
By a kind, just, and peaceable life;
You’ve heard of software as service
Well, this is people as service
Put Human in the Loop
And the people I send
Are of the same mind
And shall in all things
Behave themselves accordingly
Put Human in the Loop
This is what pseudocode would look like
Put Human in the Loop
This is what pseudocode would look like
Put Human in the Loop
I shall shortly come to you myself
At what time we may more
And literally
Largely and freely
This pseudocode makes a call
Confer and discourse
To Mechanical Turk
On these matters
And asks
Is there a human in the picture?
In the meantime,
I have sent my commissioners
To treat with you about the land
Put Human in the Loop.
Is there a human in the picture?
[“So if you wanna come and work in an environment
where you’re regularly delivering value to end customers
or to developer customers, this is the place to work.”]
William Penn | “Letter from William Penn
to the Kings of the Indians in Pennsylvania” (08.18.1681)
Jeff Bezos | Keynote address:
Technology Review’s Emerging Technology Conference at MIT (09.27.2006)
3. Everything That We Do Well
I get asked all the time
Why are you doing this
What does it have to do with selling books
What does this
Have to do with selling books?
I say
First of all
We also sell groceries.
But second of all
It’s not so much that this
Has anything to do with selling books.
Selling books has a lot to do with this
So I am hopeful
We want to open up
Everything that we do well
We think we can empower
We think we can empower developers
With a whole new kind of technology
And make it into a really profitable business
For ourselves
Jeff Bezos | Keynote address:
Technology Review’s Emerging Technology Conference at MIT (09.27.2006)
4. What Are Greens
WHAT ARE GREENS
AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Greens
Are the Farmer’s Fridge reward currency.
Greens
Are only able to be accrued and redeemed
On physical Fridge purchases.
Earn 1 Green
For every $2 you spend.
50 Greens
Earns you a $9 reward code.
To accrue Greens,
Enter your phone number when you order at the Fridge.
To redeem Greens,
Download the app,
Where you’ll be able to watch your Greens grow.
Greens
Will accumulate in your account even before you download the app—
So be sure you enter your phone number on the Fridge when you order every time!
Farmer’s Fridge | FAQs (“What are greens and how do they work?”)
(navigated 05.02.2022)
5. Gift Economy
For their persons,
They are generally tall, straight, well-built
And of singular proportion.
They tread strong and clever,
And mostly walk with a lofty chin.
You can get very fixed on your gifts
Their diet is maize,
Sometimes roasted in the ashes,
Sometimes beaten and boiled with water,
Which they call hominy.
So everybody has gifts
They also make cakes, not unpleasant to eat.
They have several sorts of beans and peas;
And the woods and rivers are their larder.
But in liberality they excel
Nothing is too good for their friend.
You know you have gifts
Give them a fine gun,
Coat, or other thing,
It may pass twenty hands, before it sticks.
And you have things that you didn’t get gifted
If a European comes to see them,
Or calls for lodging at their house or wigwam,
They give him the best place
And the first cut.
Maybe you’re extremely beautiful
If you give them anything to eat or drink,
Be it little or much, If it be with kindness,
They are well pleased,
Maybe you’re good at mathematics
Else they go away sullen,
But say nothing.
There are a lot of things that you can be given
They never have much,
Nor want much.
There are a lot of things that you can be given
Wealth circulates like blood
All parts partake
But those things can confuse you
Because they’re not the things that can construct your life
Wealth circulates like blood
All parts partake
Those things can confuse you
Don’t be proud of them
You can’t be proud because they’re gifts
You didn’t earn them
You can only be proud of the things you earn
William Penn | “A Letter from William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of Pennsylvania in America, to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders of that province residing in London containing a general description of the said province, its soil, air, water, seasons and produce.... of the natives, or aborigines, their language, customs and manners... of the first planters, the Dutch &c... to which is added an account of the city of Philadelphia” (08.16.1683)
Jeff Bezos | “Fireside Chat with Jeff Bezos, Shah Rukh Zhan and Zoya Akhtar”
at an Amazon Prime Video event in Mumbai, India (01.17.2020)
6. Country
Dear Friend
My true love in the Lord salutes you
This day my country was confirmed to me
My country was confirmed to me.
Under the great seal of England
With large powers and privileges
- A name the king would give it
In honor to my father -
By the name of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Silvania
Pennsylvania
Country
My God has given it to me. My God has given it to me.
And my God that has given it to me
Will bless and make it
The seed of a nation.
Country
My country was confirmed to me.
William Penn | Letter to Robert Turner (03.05.1681)
7. Search
May 3, 2022, 6pm [PST]
All results
Ad - https://www.fewaglobal.org
H-2A Temporary Guest Worker -
Reliable, Seasonal, Workforce
Join FEWA. Solving America’s Immigration Problems
One Employer and One Worker at a Time.
*****
Ad - https://www.try.headhonchosllc.com/labor
H-2A Program Provider
Experienced and professional H-2A $
H-4 visa processors. Providing
seasonal ranch workers.
Head Honchos is the premier service
provider for all your seasonal ranch…
*****
Ad - https://www.visaplace.com/
H-2A Visa: Temporary Agricultural
Worker for the US
Yes, We Are Open. Call Our Consultants Today.
Immigration Lawyers. Get Help Now. 20+ Years of
Experience. Over 50,000 Satisfied Clients. Contact…
*****
People also search for:
H-2A visa jobs
H-2A and h-2B visa programs
H-2A visa to green card
H-2A visa application form
H-2A visa recruitment agencies
*****
www.dhs.gov
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program
Department of Homeland Security
Keywords immigration
Employers in the United States have often faced a shortage of available domestic workers who are able, willing and qualified to fill seasonal agricultural jobs. The program was instituted to…
****
https://www.dol.gov - eta - programs
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program |
U.S. Department of Labor
The H-2A program is authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sec. 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 8 U.S.C.1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), which permits U.S. agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of…
*****
People also search for:
Who qualifies for H-2A visa?
Who hires H-2A workers?
How much does a visa cost?
Can a visa holder get a green card?
Can H-2A workers get a stimulus check?
Can H-2A workers bring their family?
How long does it take to get an H-2A visa?
What taxes do H-2A workers pay?
How do I become an H-2A employee?
How do I bring an H-2A worker to the U.S.A.?
[feedback]
Google search results | search text “H-2a visa program”
(navigated 05.03.2022)
8. Decisions
My friends,
It hath pleased God
To cast you within my lot and care
We make decisions
Based on the long-term value we create
It is a business
That though I never undertook before
God hath given me an understanding
We make decisions
Based on the long-term value we create
You shall
As we invent
To meet customer needs
You shall be governed
By laws of your own making
When we are criticized
For those choices
We listen
We look at our selves
You shall be governed
And live as
A free people
When we think our critics are right
A sober and industrious people
We change
I shall not
When we make mistakes
We apologize
I shall not usurp
The right of any
Or oppress his person
But when you look in the mirror
Assess the criticism
That though I never undertook before
God hath given me an understanding
And still believe you’re doing the right thing
No force in the world should be able to move you
God has furnished me with a better resolution
And has given me his grace to keep it
William Penn | Letter to the (European) inhabitants of Pennsylvania (04.08.1681)
Jeff Bezos | Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law (07.29.2020)
9. We’re actively monitoring
We’re actively monitoring
Our priority. We’re actively monitoring the Coronavirus
Safety is always our priority. We’re actively monitoring the Coronavirus situation
All the cities that we serve. Safety is always our priority. We’re actively monitoring the Coronavirus situation and are taking steps to keep our communities safe in
We’re in this
Local. We’re in this together.
Eat local. We’re in this together. Let’s
Community. Eat local. We’re in this together. Let’s support our
#OpenForDelivery
We’ve updated
Delivery. We’ve updated our delivery
No-contact delivery. We’ve updated our delivery options to
For a no-contact delivery. We’ve updated our delivery options to help keep
“Leave at door” at checkout for a no-contact delivery.
We’ve updated our delivery options to help keep your deliverer and
Select “leave at door” at checkout for a no-contact delivery.
We’ve updated our delivery options to help keep your deliverer and you safe.
We’re fast-tracking.
Of business, we’re fast-tracking the global
Adapt to new ways of business, we’re fast-tracking the global expansion of our
As part of our efforts to help communities adapt to new ways of business,
we’re fast-tracking the global expansion of our product.
We’ve launched
We've launched
Access We’ve launched phone
Aid We’ve launched online
People can have access We’ve launched phone ordering for those
People navigate the government aid We’ve launched online guides in all 50 states to help
Phones so more people can have access We’ve launched phone ordering so those without smart-
Delivery people navigate the government aid We’ve launched online guides in all 50 states to help drivers and
We’re proud
To We’re proud to
Up to We’re proud to match
Every contribution we’re proud to match
Restaurants in Canada up to We’re proud to match every contribution
To restaurants in Canada up to We’re proud to match every contribution to
We’ve teamed
So we’ve teamed up
Today, so we’ve teamed up with @pepsi
You’ll be staying in today, so we’ve teamed up with @pepsi to offer drinks
We know you’ll be staying in today, So we’ve teamed up with @pepsi to offer drinks on us.
Offer drinks on us. We know you’ll be staying in
On us. We know you’ll be
Us. We know you’ll
We know
We can’t wait
[avocado emoji] We can’t wait, @ariana2525 [corn emoji]
We stand
Community. We stand with the Black
We stand
And racism. We stand with those peacefully.
Hatred and racism. We stand with those peacefully protesting.
We stand
All. We stand in
Just for all. We stand in support of
More just for all. We stand in support of orgs
To make America more just for all. We stand in support of orgs like
We stand
Justice. We stand for racial
#blackouttuesday
We listened.
[black heart emoji] We listened. You can order from
Restaurants on [black heart emoji] We listened. You can order from Black-owned
We’ve introduced.
Vouchers. We’ve introduced Vouchers.
#eatlocal
We’re partnering
Hunger. We’re partnering with Coke
Facing hunger. We’re partnering with @CocaCola and
To help those facing hunger. We’re partnering with
@CocaCola and @FeedingAmerica to help
We’re pledging
The right to move freely. We’re pledging
Have the right to move freely. We’re pledging
One should have the right to move freely. We’re pledging
Color. Everyone should have the right to move freely. We’re pledging
The first #Pride was a protest led by queer and trans people of color.
Everyone should have the right to move freely.
We’re pledging rides and meals to orgs like
We’re inspired
Unprecedented times. We’re inspired to see the positive
Supporting them during unprecedented times. We’re inspired to see the positive impact delivery
Taco ‘bout a great mom!
[heart eyes emoji] [taco emoji]
We’re rolling
Features we’re rolling out
A few features we’re rolling out to continue
In 2020. Here are a few features we’re rolling out to continue supporting them
during unprecedented times.
We’re committed
Company we’re committed to being
Racist company we’re committed to being an an-
Anti-racist company we’re committed to being an anti-
Racist company we’re committed to being an an-
Company we’re committed to being
We’re committed
We’ll start
Cheese? We’ll start. Shred
Favorite cheese? We’ll start: shredded. What’s your
We all get
Until we all get 30
Only 3,232 more until we all get 30% off Wendy’s breakfast. RT the original
We’re unapologetic
We’re unapologetic
We’re unapologetic
Spectrum. We’re unapologetically committed.
The flavor spectrum. We’re unapologetically committed to representing
Spectrum. We’re unapologetically committed.
We’re unapologetic
We’re unapologetic
We’re unapologetic
Uber Eats (@UberEats) | Twitter Feed: (03.11.2020 - 03.12.2021)
THE CROSSING
Dario Amador-Lage • Katy Avery • Jessica Beebe • Kelly Ann Bixby • Karen Blanchard • Steven Bradshaw • Micah Dingler • Joanna Gates • Michael Hawes • Steven Hyder • Michael Jones • A.J. Keller • Lauren Kelly • Anika Kildegaard • Heidi Kurtz • Fran Daniel Laucerica • Maren Montalbano • Daniel Schwartz • Rebecca Siler • Tiana Sorenson • Daniel Spratlan • Elisa Sutherland • Daniel Taylor • Jackson Williams
Taylor Levine and Viva DiConcini, guitars
Ron Wiltrout and Clara Warnaar, percussion
John Grecia, keyboards
Rohan Chander, synth bass
Donald Nally, conductor
Kevin Vondrak, associate conductor
produced by William Brittelle, Ted Hearne, Donald Nally
additional production: Bakudi Scream
mixed by Michael Hammond
engineering+additional mixing: Paul Vazquez
associate producers: Kevin Vondrak, Paul Vazquez
mastering: Thomas DiMuzio (Gench Studios)
add'l engineering: Charles Mueller, Ted Hearne
choral recording add'l engineer: Matt Weber
choral recording ass't engineers: Dave Downham, Eric McNeils
The Staff of The Crossing
Donald Nally, conductor
Shannon McMahon, managing director
Naomi Bennett, artistic associate
Chelsea Lyons, community engagement manager
Kevin Vondrak, associate conductor
Paul Vazquez, sound designer
Elizabeth Dugan, bookkeeper
Katherine DeSimine, administrative assistant
Album artwork by Nia Easley – three-walls.org/artists/nia-easley/
Premiere performances:
June 22–25, 2023 at Kings Oaks Farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
July 4, 2023 at Big Sing Festival, Toneelschuur, Haarlem, Netherlands
July 9, 2023 at Caramoor Center for Music and Arts, Katonah, New York
Choral and instrumental recording for FARMING took place at The Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Additional recording at Unsettlement Studio (Los Angeles), Tiny Panther (Brooklyn, NY), and Figure 8 (Brooklyn).
We are grateful for:
our artists, composers, audience, friends, and supporters; Kate Nelson, project management;
the staff and congregation at our home, The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill;
the friendship and generosity of Dana and Neil Cohen, Clara Weishahn and Alex Cohen, and Art @ Kings Oaks, providing the field, cultivating the sprout, and sage advice;
those who opened their homes to our artists during the premiere and recording of this album: Bill and Sandy Bixby, Rebecca Siler, Anika Kildegaard and David Lemke, Corbin Abernathy and Andrew Beck, Jeff and Liz Podraza, Lauren Kelly and Henry Koch, Mike Rowley and Daniel Schwartz, Jacob Cooper and Claudia Da Palma, Steven Hyder and Donald Nally.