Here, Bullet

From Poem to Art Song to Short Film to Outreach

Here, Bullet occupies a unique space in the art song repertoire.

In 2004 renowned poet/author Brian Turner returned from a tour of duty in the Iraq War and penned his firsthand poetic descriptions in a book that has become an instant classic of its genre. In 2018, I took four of the poems and fashioned them into an 18-minute song set written for 30 baritones during the Covid shortened 2019-2020 season.

The work traces a narrative arc that takes us from a place of trauma to a state of wonder and acceptance.

Here, Bullet won First Prize in the 2020 NATS Art Song Composition Competition, received performances throughout North America, features in print and online media, podcasts interviews, performed at 9/11 commemorative ceremonies, performed on master’s and doctorate recitals, and served as the subject of a recently published doctoral dissertation titled A Performance Guide to Kurt Erickson’s Here, Bullet. Recent international performances have taken place at Deutsche Oper Berlin (baritone Thomas Lehman and pianist John Parr) and at Scotland’s St Andrews University.

Here, Bullet is currently being made into a short film by Tony-nominated actor/director Will Chase. The soundtrack was recently recorded at New York’s Power Station in a version created for the Sybarite5 string ensemble - shooting will begin Spring 2025.

Perhaps most satisfying, the Here, Bullet creative team will work alongside clinicians and mental health professionals, using the work in 3-month arts therapy programs as a vehicle for helping veterans struggling with PTSD and trauma. Partner organizations include: San Francisco VA Medical Center, Concord Vet Center, and Solano Vet Center Outstation.

Here, Bullet addresses important social issues that affect us all: PTSD, gun violence, and amplifying the voice of the veteran experience. The songs find moments of beauty and vulnerability in the midst of the chaos of armed conflict. Our hope is that singers of all voice types and experiences will perform the work and find ways to engage in these often difficult but necessary conversations.

Performance resources

Amplifying the Voice of the Veteran

PURCHASE DIGITAL SCORE

click here to learn more about the vocal ranges of each movement

Score for Baritone

Score for Mezzo-Soprano

Movement 1. Here, Bullet

Omari Tau, baritone - Kurt Erickson, piano

Movement 2. Eulogy

Randall Scarlata, baritone - Donna Loewy, piano

Movement 3. A Soldier’s Arabic

Joel David Balzun, baritone - Kevin Garnica, piano

Movement 4. A Soldier’s Arabic

Heidi Moss Erickson, soprano, Paul Schrage, piano

PAST PERFORMANCES

Featured

Apr 30

Here, Bullet | Boston, MA

Apr 29

Here, Bullet | Belmont, MA

Mar 1

Here, Bullet | Kingsville + Corpus Christi, TX

Feb 1

Here, Bullet, recording | Sybarite5 

May 7

Here, Bullet | Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati Art Song Society

Sep 7

Here, Bullet | San Francisco, CA

Noontime Concert Series

May 8

Here, Bullet | Virtual

College Music Society Conference - Northwest Regional

Apr 16

Here, Bullet | Houston, TX

Rice University, Houston, TX

Mar 12

Here, Bullet | Elk Grove, CA

Cosumnes River College - In The Studio event

Mar 5

Here, Bullet | Fresno, CA

Cal State Fresno

Feb 25

Here, Bullet | Virtual

College Music Society Conference - Southern Regional

Dec 16

Here, Bullet | Florence, Italy

Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini

Dec 9

Here, Bullet | San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Sep 10

Here, Bullet | Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma State University

Jun 26

Here, Bullet | Nashville, TN

NATS

Jun 12

Here, Bullet | Los Angeles, CA

UCLA

Apr 15

Here, Bullet | Fresno, CA

Cal State Fresno New Music Festival

Mar 13

Here, Bullet | Chicago, IL

Davenports Piano Bar Cabaret

Mar 7

Here, Bullet | San Antonio, TX

Song Collaborators Consortium

Nov 23

Here, Bullet | San Francisco, CA

SF Community Music Center

Nov 14

Here, Bullet | Elk Grove, CA

Cosumnes River College

Nov 9

Here, Bullet | La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Sep 13

Here, Bullet | Nashville, TN

St. George's Episcopal Church

Aug 22

Here, Bullet | Elk Grove, CA

Cosumnes River College

PRESS

Featured

JOURNAL OF SINGING // American Innovations in the 21st century - a Here, Bullet review

“The poetry of Here, Bullet, written by Iraq war veteran Brian Turner, is by turns, sharp and violent, limpid and sensual. Erickson’s settings are simply gorgeous; the recording of the Los Angeles premiere, moved this reviewer to tears”

CLASSICAL SINGER // "Why I chose to not get paid for my last gig"

“one composer finds increased opportunities and collaboration through an unusual approach to commissioning new works.”

PUBLIC DISSERTATION // A Performance Guide to Kurt Erickson’s Song Set Here, Bullet

“The purpose of this document is to supply a comprehensive performer’s guide to American composer Kurt Erickson’s Here, Bullet, a song cycle consisting of four songs for baritone and piano set to the poetry of American poet Brian Turner. Additionally, an overview of its unique consortium-based commissioning process will be included in examination of the entrepreneurial nature of its creation.”

DAILY REPUBLIC // Fairfield composer wins NATS Art Song Competition

The unique nature of this new commissioning consortium template has caught the attention of media outlets in the form of feature articles in a variety of formats including “Classical Singer Magazine,” “San Francisco Classical Voice” and “Journal of Singing.”

BROADWAY WORLD // 2020 NATS Art Song First Prize Winner

“Composer Kurt Erickson has won First Prize in the National Association of Teachers of Singing 2020 Art Song Composition Award for his composition "Here, Bullet (Song Set for Baritone and Piano)" based on poems written by Brian Turner during his time serving in the Iraq War.”

SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE // Composer Kurt Erickson Finds Fertile Ground in a Veteran’s Poem

“Here, Bullet” is a direct-to-the-heart poem penned by 52-year-old Brian Turner while serving as an infantry team leader in Iraq. Now, 49-year-old composer Kurt Erickson has set the poem for baritone and pianist, and is pursuing innovative, divergent pathways to bring words and music to the ears and hearts of listeners worldwide.