The album is dedicated to the veterans whose interviews form the basis of the work: Justen Bennett, Amber Ferenz, Richard Girardin, Gene Little, Joseph W. Little, and Eugene F. Woznicki.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer David T. Little wrote Soldier Songs to explore the complexity of a soldier's situation and to gain empathy for those who have experienced combat.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The libretto for Soldier Songs comes directly from interviews composer David T. Little conducted with veterans, many of whom were speaking about their experiences for the first time.
Composition History
The version of Soldier Songs on this recording premiered in 2011 at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven, as part of a Beth Morrison Projects Production.
Interpretation
The production of Soldier Songs grapples with the 'impossibility of representation' of war, using an 'eerily quiet soundscape' in 'Steel Rain' to depict combat chaos.
Recording & Production
The album was produced, mixed, and mastered by Lawson White, who also engineered the vocal tracks at Flux Studios, NYC.
Composition History
Soldier Songs was commissioned by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, which premiered its original version in 2006.
