Bulosan: On American Democracy

A montage music video for Part 3 of Bulosan: On American Democracy for Narrator, Wind Symphony, and Fixed Media (2021, rev. 2023)

Note: This video has been edited to obscure physical violence documented in footage released by the January 6 House Select Committee.

Bulosan: On American Democracy for Narrator, Wind Symphony, and Fixed Media (2021/2023) draws inspiration from selected excerpts from two important literary opuses written by the immigrant labor union organizer and writer, Carlos Bulosan (1913-1956), who was active in California and Washington State in the 1930s and 40s. In both his semi-autobiographical novel, America is in the Heart (1946), and the essay, “Freedom from Want” (1943), the author wrote on themes about the preservation of American democracy at a time when it was under threat by the rise of Fascism in Western Europe, Authoritarian Communism in the Soviet Union, and rampant racism at home.

Bulosan: On American Democracy won 1st place in the 2023 American Prize for Wind Ensemble Composition, University-Level division, as well as 2nd place among Social Justice-related content compositions. It is included in ABLAZE Records' Wind Orchestra Masters, Vol. 1 album, released in Summer 2024.