Description

It begins in quiet, with innocence, then tells the story of longing for home as never before... GOD BLESS AMERICA may well be played alone, but as you will see on the Chapter 5:8 CD and see "literally" on the THAT WE MIGHT LIVE DVD, is also a concluding statement to Kakehasi: That We Might Live.

Friends... This much beloved version of GOD BLESS AMERICA, as indeed you will see in the testimonials of VETERANS below, is neverthless NOT available in The United States of America. For those of you who appreciate iron, it is available via Thomas Rundel in Germany.

Forty-five minutes before getting ona plane to France, where GOD BLESS AMERICA would be played on OMAHA BEACH, Thomas was able to secure an international permission and license. As I left for OMAHA BEACH, Thomas sent the following email.

"Viel Erfolg in OMAHA BEACH". (Good luck on Omaha Beach.)

Now, see IN EINEM ANDEREN LICHT too! Mein Gott.

I DO have hard copies of the German traditional music sets. This work is NOT available in PDF, but it is possible to order the German edition from STORMWORKS® USA.

This piece is from the STORMWORKS... Chapter V∞ CD.

Testimonials

"Steve, words cannot express the soaring emotions which one experiences when hearing this monumental work. You deserve the Medal of Freedom for this piece of patriotism, especially for your success in having the spirited cooperation of a once-despised and brutal enemy. I salute you, Sir!" -Joseph R. Priestley, LCDR, USN (Ret.) Served in WWII, Korea & Vietnam

"Stephen's new CD, Chapter 5:8 "Writings on the Wall" is indeed a historic groundbreaking album and a total artistic triumph. The Japanese military band and American voices superbly deliver a phenomenal performance of music that is at once gripping and spellbinding! From the moving mega work Kakehashi to the great uplifting rendition of God Bless America this double CD set is packed with masterworks. Cuba skillfully weaves music which creates two distinct atmospheres - one of the fun party nature of Tropicana - like casinos and the other of the oppression of the island's present dictatorial regime. Melillo migrates back and forth between these two moods with absolute musical mastery and with the full command of all his instrumental resources. The Violin Concerto, on the other hand, symbolizes the utmost in modern Romanticism. It is an outstanding expressive work which puts the violin through a myriad of expressive and technical paths. Bravo to Melillo on this fantastic achievement!" -Aldo Rafael Forte, Composer

"Take a deep breath. Now: Listen to the creation of the world as seen by Stephen Melillo, a composer who confesses his personal God-link in such works as GODSPEED and SPEECH OF ANGELS, each of which opened the two sections of the program. It was like this: a shattering of the former silence, and then an opening, an awakening of the spirit (in GODSPEED) after which a choir of sounds never heard before (SPEECH OF ANGELS) brings a message of comfort and hope.

Melillo is to wind music what Beethoven was to the symphony orchestra, and he follows a Beethovenesque design of increasing the musical tension almost to the breaking point, receding, and then reaching again. It is superlative musical craftsmanship and inspiring to hear." -Marvin Sosna, Special to The Tribune