Background Production Notes

This piece fades up on a mix of two sounds; one, a hissing sand sound, and two, a deep atmospheric keyboard tone. This was done to help set the scene in the desert, and to add an ominous overtone in the background. A modal arpeggiated keyboard sound is used to reinforce a Middle Eastern feel, beginning before the poem starts. It springs up out of the desert sounds, and is purposefully used early to reinforce the idea that the culture involved in the conflict is an ancient one. For the theme of the poet, I used the childhood melody "London Bridge is Falling Down" played on a delicate sound imitating a music box. Although I did not write the poem about a man from any particular country, I felt this tune worked nicely in opposition to the Middle Eastern feel I achieved in the background. I also thought using a childhood tune would lend a feel of innocence to the poet for the listener. The melody is repeated but slows down during the poem, mimicking the slowing heartbeat of the poet as he dies. A string pull is heard on the line 'the poet lies bleeding'. This sound was used to reinforce the horror feeling of the setting, and is heard again during the stanza:

His hands foreign things

His mind a maze of menace

To his soul

to indicate that the change the poet sees in himself is a horrific element of the poem. The sound is heard again during the last stanza, to indicate that the death of yet one more man like the one in the poem is a horrific loss for the entire world. A keyboard sound mimicking the drop and explosion of bombs was used to add to the second stanza that discuss the armed conflict:

Railing against the light

Against the night-blooming poison

Stealing sacred dreams

And dew-fresh flowers.

The melody "London Bridge is falling down" is heard the last time during the last stanza. This is to indicate the death of the poet. The modal arpeggiated keyboard sound is heard after the poem, to reinforce subliminally that the essence of this ancient culture will continue past the current conflict. The piece is faded out on the hissing sand sound and deep atmospheric keyboard tone. This was done purposefully, to suggest to the listener that it is the desert that will prevail, beyond the poet and beyond the people who live there.