title

six letters

year of composition

2024

duration

15′

instrumentation

mezzo-soprano, baritone, and piano

performance

• december 11, 2024 | christina grohowski (msop), fredy bonilla (bar), sandro tsereteli (pf) | new haven, united states

program note

The piece is based on the letters of Robert Walker, a Civil War soldier, and newly written responses by Christina Grohowski, the mezzo-soprano performing the work. Spanning 1861 to 1865, the piece highlights the relationship between a mother and her son, focusing on the emotional resonance of their everyday conversations rather than the direct horrors of war.

The structure begins with the soldier’s death notice, narrated with piano accompaniment, and unfolds in reverse chronological order. This arrangement offers a layered perspective, tracing back to Robert’s first letter 858 days earlier. While the letters maintain their understated tone, the music is envisioned to gradually shift, revealing the unspoken emotional depth of the characters. This approach transforms ordinary words into a poignant musical narrative, capturing love, loss, and connection amid the backdrop of war.