For Wind Orchestra, and Percussion / running time 9:30 / Four Movements
Tales of the Triassic
Earth's Triassic Period is bordered by two major extinction events. The Permian / Triassic Extinction Event, aka
"The Great Dying," occurred some 252 million years ago. 50 million later came the Triassic / Jurassic Extinction Event.
90% of marine species disappeared during the first event, along with nearly 70% of terrestrial species.
Essentially, the slate was wiped clean and the path was open to all manner of beings.
Most famously were the dinosaurs, whose fossilized remains first show up in the mid Triassic.
Initially however, it was the Proto-Mammals, the "Mammal-Like Reptiles," who ruled.
Our mammal ancestors didn't make the scene until the Late Triassic.
While monsoons occurred around the equator, Earth's interior was mostly dry and arid - because all
the continents had been forced together by Plate Tectonics, into one massive land mass, Pangea.
Clouds were only able to travel a short distance before their moisture was spent.
Temperature was warmer then today, and there were no polar caps.
It is in this remarkable world that Tales of the Triassic takes place.
There are so many, but restrictions of time leave room for only four at this occasion.
1. First Light - Reptiles, being reptiles, need the warmth of the sun to become fully active. Many activities were
possible, but the first is to eat, to live, to survive, to be able to pass on genes to a new generation.
One menu involves feeding ferns, cycads, and low lying conifers.
While the other involves feeding on the feeders.
2. At the Horizon - One must never become too engrossed in one's meal, for there is always the possibility
of a threat, or of an opportunity - a faster predator, or a tasty morsel.
3. By the Lake - A time of detent ... perhaps? Water has always been a great equalizer.
Having evolved from the oceans, all terrestrial beings must have it in some form, or perish.
4. The Hunt <> the Chase - For at least 2 billion years (2,000,000,000), this has been
a part of life. A third aspect though, The Kill, is not always inevitable.
Maybe it's luck - Maybe it's what drives Evolution: a keener sense, a greater awareness.
Perhaps even a larger brain.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Composer / Pianist George F. Spicka also serves as Curator of Paleontology for the
Natural History Society of Maryland.
Besides identifying fossils and participating in community outreach education programs,
he keeps up with the ongoing research into extinction events and changing climate,
which sometimes are related.
Earth's Triassic Period is bordered by two major extinction events. The Permian / Triassic Extinction Event, aka
"The Great Dying," occurred some 252 million years ago. 50 million later came the Triassic / Jurassic Extinction Event.
90% of marine species disappeared during the first event, along with nearly 70% of terrestrial species.
Essentially, the slate was wiped clean and the path was open to all manner of beings.
Most famously were the dinosaurs, whose fossilized remains first show up in the mid Triassic.
Initially however, it was the Proto-Mammals, the "Mammal-Like Reptiles," who ruled.
Our mammal ancestors didn't make the scene until the Late Triassic.
While monsoons occurred around the equator, Earth's interior was mostly dry and arid - because all
the continents had been forced together by Plate Tectonics, into one massive land mass, Pangea.
Clouds were only able to travel a short distance before their moisture was spent.
Temperature was warmer then today, and there were no polar caps.
It is in this remarkable world that Tales of the Triassic takes place.
There are so many, but restrictions of time leave room for only four at this occasion.
1. First Light - Reptiles, being reptiles, need the warmth of the sun to become fully active. Many activities were
possible, but the first is to eat, to live, to survive, to be able to pass on genes to a new generation.
One menu involves feeding ferns, cycads, and low lying conifers.
While the other involves feeding on the feeders.
2. At the Horizon - One must never become too engrossed in one's meal, for there is always the possibility
of a threat, or of an opportunity - a faster predator, or a tasty morsel.
3. By the Lake - A time of detent ... perhaps? Water has always been a great equalizer.
Having evolved from the oceans, all terrestrial beings must have it in some form, or perish.
4. The Hunt <> the Chase - For at least 2 billion years (2,000,000,000), this has been
a part of life. A third aspect though, The Kill, is not always inevitable.
Maybe it's luck - Maybe it's what drives Evolution: a keener sense, a greater awareness.
Perhaps even a larger brain.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Composer / Pianist George F. Spicka also serves as Curator of Paleontology for the
Natural History Society of Maryland.
Besides identifying fossils and participating in community outreach education programs,
he keeps up with the ongoing research into extinction events and changing climate,
which sometimes are related.