Current
Press Release
***For
Immediate Release***
Rumsfeld's“Poetic”
Language Makes Sweet Music on New CD
Breakout
CD, “The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld,”
Launches Independent Classical Music Label and Receives
International Attention for “Artful” Musical Humor in
an Election Year
SAN
FRANCISCO, Calif., August 2004 – U.S.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is well-known for
his distinctive way with words. Now, Rumsfeld's inimitable
language and cadence are proving to be the stuff that
poetry and classical music are made of.
San
Francisco-based composer Bryant Kong
is capturing national and international attention and
media coverage for transforming quotations from the
Secretary's Pentagon briefings into entertaining classical
songs, “The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld,”
performed on a new CD by soprano Elender Wall
with Kong on piano. Texts for the songs were previously
arranged into poems by columnist Hart Seely, published
in his popular book, “Pieces of Intelligence,” in the
second half of 2003.
“My
goal is to update classical music and make it more accessible
to a broader audience,” said composer Kong. “Art
needs to address the themes of the day to remain vibrant
and relevant. Andy Warhol painted Campbell's soup cans,
which he saw as notable cultural icons of his time.
Similarly, I find that Rumsfeld's words encapsulate
important issues we are dealing with today: the war
in Iraq, control of information and access to it, and
the Bush administration's efforts to sell policy objectives
through public relations.”
Describing
the new work, Kong said, “If you think of Rumsfeld as
a character in a ‘Gulf Wars II' musical, these are the
songs he might sing. The seven songs show the Secretary
not only holding forth from his press podium, but in
introspective moments as well. These opposing moods
are the natural results of the situation in which Rumsfeld
finds himself. He is trying to sell a story that can't
be sold.”
Songs
are based on direct Rumsfeld quotations. The words to
“The Unknown” are now classic — "As
we know, there are known knowns. There are things we
know we know. We also know there are known unknowns..."
“Happenings” includes words
now spoken by Rumsfeld in the film, “Fahrenheit 9/11”
— “You get told things every day that don't happen...”
“The Situation” notes that "There
will be some things that people will see. There will
be some things that people won't see. And life goes
on."
The
CD, “The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld and Other
Fresh American Art Songs,” is the debut release
of Kong's independent classical music label, Stuffed
Penguin Music, as well as the debut recording
of classically trained artists Kong and Wall.
The
two artists have kicked off their “Weapons of
Mass Distraction” concert tour with performances
in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. A notable
feature of this tour is its variety of venues — not
only traditional classical music halls, but also bookstores
and political fundraisers such as a recent “House Party
for John Kerry.” Upcoming events include performances
at “86 Bush,” a San Francisco fundraiser for MoveOn.org
in September, and the Berkeley Arts Festival in October.
Kong
and Wall are interesting hybrids of classical musicians
and entrepreneurs. In addition to being a composer,
pianist and humorist, Kong holds an MBA from UCLA's
prestigious Anderson School of Management. Wall, well-versed
in both standard and non-standard vocal repertoire,
has also written a physics textbook.
“With
the launch of this CD, we also seek to update the industry
model for classical music,” said Kong. “We are
borrowing from the model for independent popular music.
It's highly unusual for classical artists to record
an album as a means of trying to ‘break out' and build
a career. The typical classical route entails spending
years trying to please competition judges and other
industry gatekeepers to ‘win' the opportunity to have
a performing career.”
San
Francisco-based Stuffed Penguin Music launched and released
“The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld and Other Fresh American
Art Songs” in Spring 2004. Professionally produced and
recorded at the University of California at Los Angeles
(UCLA), the CD can be purchased directly from the Stuffed
Penguin label at www.stuffedpenguin.com. The company
is currently working to expand distribution for the
CD.
#
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Editor's
Note: The CD itself, as well as JPEG photography
of the artists and the CD art (with humorous illustration
of Rumsfeld singing/speaking and accompanying himself
on piano), can be obtained upon request. Press materials
(available in hard copy form by request and at the website)
include song lyrics, backgrounders, bios and performing
schedules.
www.stuffedpenguin.com/presscenter |
