Peacebomb is inspired by the story of Laotian families who make jewelry from metal reclaimed from unexploded ordnance (UXO). Taking an instrument of war and turning it into something beautiful is a powerful metaphor and reminds us we all have the opportunity to take action and transform our world.
Collaborators include renowned lyricist, Charles Anthony Silvestri, who has written stirring lyrics, as well as Article 22, a New York company that has provided the international market for these Laotian families who make this jewelry, to create a percussion instrument that can be used in the piece.
Tony’s lyrics can be found at the end of this post.
We are now seeking collaborators from all fifty states for the peacebomb consortium. This special project seeks one choir per state to join us to commission and premiere the work during the 2019-2020 season. We’d like to invite you to join us to represent your state.
The details:
The work will be medium-advanced difficulty level, with scores delivered by September 1, 2019.
Each choir will receive 2 Skype-hearsal sessions, a reproducible PDF score
Each choir and director’s name printed on the inside cover of the score.
As our commitment to “wage peace,” 10% of each commission fee will be donated to MAG (Mine Advisory Group), to continue the clearing of UXO in Laos.
More information can be found here: https://mbqstudio.com/peacebomb/
Please feel free to get in touch with Michael via email () or phone (516-729-0970 cell) if you have any questions about this project.
For examples of Michael’s musical style, please visit the links below:
Nigra Sum (SATB double choir) 2017: https://soundcloud.com/michael-bussewitz-quarm/nigra-sum-2017-bussewitz-quarm
Adoravit (SATB double choir) 2019 : https://soundcloud.com/michael-bussewitz-quarm/adoravit-bussewitz-quarm
From the Child Refugee Awareness Choral Consortium:
My Name is Lamiya: Don’t Call Me ‘Refugee’ (SATB divisi) 2017: https://youtu.be/NPTV3qnZEDE
I’ll Fly Away (SSAATTBB) 2010: https://soundcloud.com/michael-bussewitz-quarm/ill-fly-away-i-christ-church-cathedral-i-iscm-new-music-days-2017-i-vancouver
Commissioned by Women’s Voices Chorus of Chapel Hill:
There is Only Time to Love: Gaaggee Zaag’aa (SSAA+SA) 2019: https://soundcloud.com/michael-bussewitz-quarm/only-time-to-love-gaaggee-zaagaa-michael-bussewitz-quarm-chantal-sellers
PEACEBOMB
©2019 for Michael Bussewitz-Quarm
Bomb. Mine. Shell. Bullet.
Hellfire rain;
An orgy of ordnance.
Fields sown with seeds of death,
A dark harvest
Exploding underfoot.
Pieces of another time,
Stories of shattered lives
Melted, twisted,
Told in shards,
In fragments of a forgotten war;
But we must not forget.
For peace too can be waged,
With targeted trust,
Strategic acts of love,
And incendiary transformation!
These shards become the seeds of peace;
The harvest is dignity, is memory,
And reconciliation.
Let peace rain down like bombs,
And watch the earth explode with beauty!
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