A Symphony of Modern Objects: IV. Vietnam War Memorial

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Matthew Hindson, a classical composer, born 12 September 1968 in Wollongong, NSW, Australia. On this album he worked with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, which included the song "A Symphony of Modern Objects: IV. Vietnam War Memorial". It was commissioned by the Ars Musica Australis, a not-for-profit community-based arts organisation. Hindson wrote program notes, which discussed the mistreatment of veterans, conscripted at the age of 19, but on their return to Australia were "ignored at best, or reviled and abused at worst". The country needed to recognise "the sacrifices made by these men and women". Yet, he also acknowledged the brutality of the war for the Vietnamese: "the grief-stricken wailing of a mother whose daughter has been sprayed with napalm".1 This is another interesting post-war Australian song that criticised the country's poor track record of memorialising the war. Our country’s involvement in the Vietnam War can be viewed in hindsight as an altogether destructive experience. For me, the most disturbing aspect of this war was the way in which the returned soldiers were treated upon their return. I find it difficult to imagine the scenario of a 19 year old…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Notes

Performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Young; Trust Records (New Zealand). Fourth movement of Symphony No. 1.

About the artist

Matthew Hindson - classical composer born 12 September 1968 in Wollongong, NSW; the symphony (2003) was commissioned by Ars Musica Australis.

Themes

Vet · Mistreatment of Vet · War Memorials · Napalm · Draft · Civilian Casualties

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs · Draft Songs