String Orchestra Score
Symphony For Vietnam Veterans
Reflecting on the past can inspire composers to express their experiences through music. With "Symphony For Vietnam Veterans," I have created musical interpretations that reflect my experiences as a soldier in Vietnam. Initially written for string quartet under the title "Quartet For The Sons of Nam" and expanded to full orchestra in 1992, this 2025 version has been reorchestrated for string orchestra. The score is divided into four chapters, each containing individual "events" representing snapshots of my most vivid memories from the war.
In 1986, after participating in the "Chicago Welcome Home Parade" for Vietnam Veterans, I felt compelled to confront the emotions from my time in Vietnam through music composition. Following an invitation in 2012 to witness President Obama proclaimed March 29 as the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day, I decided to reorchestrate and rename the score to recognize this significant occasion. "Symphony For Vietnam Veterans," along with other compositions, serves as a musical recollection of my memories from service in Vietnam and represents a personal catharsis. Chapters 1 and 2 depict the events leading to my arrival in Vietnam in 1970 and my departure eleven months later, while Chapters 3 and 4 remain to be completed.
Duration: 12 minutes.
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Hear Recording (Video With Composer's images from Vietnam, 1970)
Score available for purchase in the Omik store.
String Orchestra Score
Into The Liquid
A Veterans Lament
A Veterans Lament
Into The Liquid - Commissioned by ETHEL, with support from ETHEL’s Foundation for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.. The score is based on images from the Documerica Project (1971-1977), where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired freelance photographers to photograph different aspects of American life,
Duration: 12 minutes.
Hear Live Recording (With narrative Intro and Video)
Score available for purchase in the Omik store.
A Veterans Lament
A Veterans Lament
A Veterans Lament
A Veterans’ Lament was composed as part of the string quartet “Into The Liquid”, commissioned by the New York City-based Ethel Quartet in 2013.
It is included as the 3rd chapter of the quartet version titled, “Adult Years".
A Veterans' Lament as scored here, has an added Introduction and is orchestrated for full orchestra, wind ensemble and string quartet with piano. These arrangements continue the composers' mission to use music to bring visibility to veterans and their service to country.
Duration: 4 minutes
Hear Live Recording (scroll to 8minutes of video)
Score available for purchase in the Omik store.