Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCRL341
Release Date: 2010-11-15
Rosalind Rees, soprano; Douglas Perry, tenor; Charles Greenwell, bass; Chuck Garretson, soprano; Texas Boys Choir; George Bragg, conductor; Columbia University Men's Glee Club; Orchestral ensemble conducted by Gregg Smith
Beware of the Soldier was written for George Bragg and the Texas Boys Choir. It was first performed by the Choir in Fort Worth, May of 1969. It was during this period that campus rioting was at an apex and emotions over the Vietnam War were running at their highest. Although the work could be labeled as “anti-war,” the composition is intended more as a reflection of two aspects of mankind — childhood and innocence (as exemplified by those wonderful music-making boys) and “manhood” and the warrior complex (the male chorus). There is a third important element which focuses the above toward the futility of war — that of the elegies (sung by a solo voice).
I do not wish to espouse politics either in writing or in some way musically (and it is extremely questionable whether music can be really political) except to mention that one of the (many) horrific aspects of man's war-history is the use of many devices to justify war-making, even, astonishingly, religion. The most devastating commentary on this malaise is the War Prayer of Mark Twain — a most horrifying satire. Twain himself decided against publishing his poem while he lived — “I have told the whole truth in that, and only dead men can tell the truth in this world.” But men in all ages have cried out against the folly of war and this work (I am happy to note) draws its poetry from many sources in many periods ranging from Roman times (Tibullus) through St. Francis to 19th century authors Twain, Tolstoy and Hardy. The question of war, of armies, of military thinking, is not one of just our time but has concerned men in the same way through all ages. — Gregg Smith
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Beware of the Soldier was written for George Bragg and the Texas Boys Choir. It was first performed by the Choir in Fort Worth, May of 1969. It was during this period that campus rioting was at an apex and emotions over the Vietnam War were running at their highest. Although the work could be labeled as “anti-war,” the composition is intended more as a reflection of two aspects of mankind — childhood and innocence (as exemplified by those wonderful music-making boys) and “manhood” and the warrior complex (the male chorus). There is a third important element which focuses the above toward the futility of war — that of the elegies (sung by a solo voice).
I do not wish to espouse politics either in writing or in some way musically (and it is extremely questionable whether music can be really political) except to mention that one of the (many) horrific aspects of man's war-history is the use of many devices to justify war-making, even, astonishingly, religion. The most devastating commentary on this malaise is the War Prayer of Mark Twain — a most horrifying satire. Twain himself decided against publishing his poem while he lived — “I have told the whole truth in that, and only dead men can tell the truth in this world.” But men in all ages have cried out against the folly of war and this work (I am happy to note) draws its poetry from many sources in many periods ranging from Roman times (Tibullus) through St. Francis to 19th century authors Twain, Tolstoy and Hardy. The question of war, of armies, of military thinking, is not one of just our time but has concerned men in the same way through all ages. — Gregg Smith
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Full liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Gregg Smith: Beware of the Soldier
| MP3/320 | $9.99 | |
| FLAC | $9.99 | |
| WAV | $9.99 | |
| CD-R | $12.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Beware of the Soldier
Gregg Smith
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