Marcus Amaker, the Poet Laureate of Charleston, was recently commissioned for a project marking the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A new set of dramatic songs, set to Amaker's poetry, premieres online next month.
On November 11th, the date of the Tomb's centennial, a cinematic treatment of the premiere performance of UNKNOWN with dramatic and historical scenes will be released online for a one week run. UrbanArias, an opera company based in Arlington, Virginia, commissioned the composer Shawn Okpebholo and Amaker to write a song cycle for this occasion. The two had already collaborated on an acclaimed work, Two Black Churches.
UNKNOWN explores the ideas of war, honor, and memory through the eyes of soldiers, family members, and Tomb Guards who are connected to each other and the Tomb through their mutual service and sacrifice. The Tomb Guards’ motto, “Soldiers never die until they are forgotten. Tomb Guards never forget,” captures the solemn and profound significance of their duty.
The film will be available for free on-demand streaming on the UrbanArias website.
