OF SHRAPNEL AND BLOOD (2014)

 

50 minutes

 

Version for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Baritone, SATB chorus, and orchestra

1(=picc).1.1.1, 2.1.2(II=btbn).0, 2 perc, egtr, hp, str

(flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns in F, B-flat trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, 2 percussion, electric guitar, harp, and strings)

 

Text by Brian Turner, Rudyard Kipling, Siegfried Sassoon, and Walt Whitman, and from the Qu'ran

 

Premiered April 2014 in Houston, TX

Stephanie Register, soprano

Cecilia Duarte, mezzo-soprano

Brian Yeakley, tenor

Trevor Martin, baritone

Brett Linski, oboe

Michelle Perrin Blair, conductor

 

See also: 'Greenbriar' chamber version

 

PROGRAM NOTE:

Of Shrapnel And Blood traces the oft-repeated sequence ofevents leading up to, and following, conflict: naivety and religious or political fervor leading up to war; the sudden, harsh realities of violence; and our response to the human toll of war, too-seldom considered beforehand. A smaller chamber version for four soloists and 12-part ensemble was arranged for the Greenbriar Consortium.

 

1. Prelude

solo oboe

 

2. Opening Chorus (Qu'ran)

chorus, orchestra

 

3. Observation Post #71 (Brian Turner)

tenor, baritone, orchestra

 

4. Hymn Before Action (Rudyard Kipling)

chorus, orchestra

 

5. Here, Bullet (Brian Turner)

baritone, orchestra

 

6. Interlude I

solo oboe

 

7. Ajal (Brian Turner)

soprano, orchestra

 

8. Sadiq (Brian Turner)

chorus, orchestra

 

9. A Soldier's Arabic (Brian Turner)

mezzo-soprano, orchestra

 

10. Phantom Noise (Brian Turner)

baritone, orchestra

 

11. I Knew a Simple Soldier Boy (Siegfried Sassoon)

tenor, orchestra

 

12. Ashbah (Brian Turner)

soprano, mezzo-soprano, orchestra

 

13. Interlude II

solo oboe

 

14. Look Down, Fair Moon (Walt Whitman)

baritone, chorus, orchestra

 

15. A Dead Statesman (Rudyard Kipling)

soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone

 

16. Closing Chorus (Qu'ran)

chorus, orchestra

 

17. Postlude

solo oboe