Project Overview

Purpose:

Below What Once Were Wings is a requiem that is dedicated to my close friend, Robert Rottet.  Rob took his own life in 1999 while enlisted in the Army, 82^nd Airborne division at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina.  It is a project that is meant to rise above the cathartic level (though it most certainly is also this) to attain the designation of a work of art in its own right.

The project seeks to both honor and memorialize Rob.

Method:

By its definition, a requiem is “a musical composition in honor of the dead.”  Below What Once Were Wings will include spoken word, visual art, and music.

Final Format:

The project has evolved greatly in recent months, and I am preparing myself for the work to take an extended amount of time in its production.  In the end, the project will take the form of a recorded CD.

Planned Personal Activity in the Near Future:

I am in discussions with artists and musicians at this time, and am continuing to write the requiem's lyrics.

Planned Activity for the Involvement of Others:

I am seeking to involve other artists and musicians in this project.  First priority will be given to Rob’s family and friends; second priority will be given to any others who desire to be involved.

Because I’m seeking the involvement of others, I will be posting the requiem-in-progress on the Internet, making it available for viewing by Robert's family, friends, and others interested in the project.

Mapping the Requiem

1.  The music of the requiem will be in 9 sections, each based on the traditional requiem form.

2.  The lyrics will be in the form of spoken-word tracks.  There will be 9 in number.

3.  In addition to this, the CD booklet will be—after the usual listing of required elements—a group of 9 pieces of art.  I want to involve 9 visual artists, one to accompany each musical track of Rob’s as listed above.  The process will use the same method as listed for the musicians, but, of course, will be seeking to be visually inspired by Rob’s music.  The prime example of what I foresee visually (though I doubt this project will be able to afford such a thing) is the accompanying CD booklet for Peter Gabriel’s Us.

NOTE:  With certainty it can be said that musicians and artists will need to donate their time and work.  The project will seek to pay for the recording of the musician’s work, and the printing of the artist’s work (in the booklet only).  Each artist will retain their own copyright; the project seeks only one-time usage rights.

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