I often am reminded of how the Western world appears to be more concerned about entertainment and society than tragedies occurring in other parts of the world.

I recall a photograph published during the Bosnian war (1992-1995) of a young couple who were shot and killed trying to leave a city. They were of different ethnic heritage, and therefore, were the Romeo and Juliet of Sarajevo.

This photograph spurred me to learn more about what seemed to be an inexplicable war. I visited websites, read magazine articles, newspapers, and books, and watched movies about the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. Each new piece of information I learned served as a genesis for a new song.

At first, I felt I was an intruder in a very personal civil war. Through the process of writing the music, however, I came to have a genuine affection for a country I have never visited, for people I have never met, and for a language I cannot speak.

Palace of the Fields does little more than scrape the proverbial surface of the many complex issues of that war, and still, it is my hope that this music will give some perspective on this conflict and will honor those whose lives were changed by this war.

Palace of the Fields author and composer Renae Angeroth is a native Iowan and lives with her family in Des Moines, Iowa.

top

Grant

This project was supported in part with a grant from the Iowa Arts Council (IAC), a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. IAC provided partial funding to create a compact disc to be used to promote Palace of the Fields to musical groups, organizations, schools, colleges, and universities. Those who participated in making the compact disc were Neil Bubke, Emily Chafa, Ashley Cooprider, Loren Esse, Elisabeth Angeroth Franks, Joel Gettys, Elaine A. Hites, Jeremy Jorgenson, Barbara Martin, Frances Paterik, Michael J. Piper, Deborah Svec-Carstens, Tim Vermillion, and Lu Ann White. I am indebted to them for their participation in this project and for the gift of hearing what my music sounded like outside of my head. For a copy of the compact disc, send a message using my contact form.

Other

Zijo Suceska is a native Sarajevan. He and his family left Bosnia during the war. They now live in the United States. Mr. Suceska provided me with helpful insights and advice on cultural details which I was able to incorporate into the libretto. He also wrote a letter of support (PDF, 16KB) for the Palace of the Fields project.

top

Although not meant as an accurate historical account of the war, Palace of the Fields may prompt new discussion and questions about the war and provide non-Bosnians with a new perspective on the circumstances experienced by the Bosnian refugee/immigrant population.

Palace of the Fields may be licensed by schools, colleges, universities, theatre companies, and other community groups as a unique teaching tool about the Bosnian war, war in general, and our understanding of community and culture.

For more information about the production, including information about licensing rights, send a message using my contact form.

top