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Talented Hero Honors The Fallen
March 12, 2007
While our troops are maintaining a hectic pace, fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, they aren’t always busy with their jobs 24/7. They do have down time. During that down time, many of our troops turn to things to occupy the time. Some may play a guitar, write a journal, listen to music, some may have brought their guitar with them, and strum it to while away their time. It’s not often though that you hear of a classical pianist and composer in the military. Somehow the two don’t seem to be something that would be compatible.
At FOB Orgun-E in Afghanistan, you will find such a soldier. SPC Brandon Begley who’s only 22, began studying the piano at the young age of 6. Begley took 4 months to compose a three-movement sonata as a tribute to fallen comrades. The piece honors PFC Aaron Edgin and Cpl Kevin Griner who were both killed in battle in 2006. But Begley says that not only does it honor his fallen friends but also anyone who’s fallen in the name of freedom. The sonata is called “The Sonata of War and Peace.”
“It was very sad and very painful to, you know, see that Soldiers had given their lives in defense of their Country,” Begley said in a choked voice. Although his job doesn’t take him off the base, he has seen the results of fighting. “War is not a pretty sight,” he says.
Begley composed his sonata in an empty airplane hanger, as he says it has the best acoustics. Begley took about four months to perfect the piece, writing between shifts, repairing armored vehicles and construction equipment. He also plays on an organ that is borrowed from the base chapel. Begely said that the deaths of his fellow Soldiers shook him deeply and that this is reflected in his music, which he describes as “dark.” He further says that this reflects the conflicting nature of the inspiration for the sonata; the hope for peace as opposed to the need to confront the threat of terrorism. Begley has only performed his sonata for a few seclect comrades.
But he has higher aspirations. He describes his music as “a combination of Mozart and Beethoven” and hopes one day to perform in public with a live orchestra. He also has composed music to celebrate the birth of his first daughter, Bella, and other family events.
“I want everyone to know my feelings about our Soldiers and not only in the United States but every army,” he says. “I hope my music will touch a lot of hearts.”
At this time, Begley’s plans are to make a career of the Army. He joined in October 2001 shortly after 9/11. He eventually would like to be able to join the Army band.
Comments
24 Responses to “Talented Hero Honors The Fallen”
Greetings and salutations from the battle field of Afghanistan. I read the article published by you and I must say, it’s a great article. I like the way you did it up. I am a proud American soldier who is honored to serve. I never knew CPL Edgin and CPL Greiner, but they are my brothers in arms. I would just like to say to the families of those soldiers who were killed in action, I am with you and if you want to talk to me, I am here for you. The Sonata of War and Peace is for all soldiers, past, present, and future, and for all who have fallen in the name of freedom. Thank you for publishing my article on your website and I will always honor those who serve. This music is for them. I wish you “peace and prosperity, for all generations!”
SPC Brandon J. Begley
U.S. Army, Afghanistan
HOOAH!
Sorry, I forgot to check the link, Please notify me of follow up comments via e-mail. Thank you and Godsbee
SPC Begley thank you so much for stopping by the blog. It was my pleasure to feature you and your song. I will most definitely keep you notified of comments. THANK YOU for your service and your sacrifice and for honoring your fellow soldiers with your talent.
it’s an honor, once I get my copyright done, I plan to release the sonata of war and peace to all those who wish to listen to it, and I will send it to you if you would like a copy. I plan to release it on April 15th. Thanks again for your support, and for featuring my article. Godsbee
SPC Begley,
It would be an honor and our pleasure to feature your sonata.
Outstanding! HOOAH! arighty then, once I get everything taken care of, I will send it to you. I’ll need your address, but send that directly to my email address. After april 15th, I plan to release my sonata to the world. Take care and Godsbee.
As Anthony said, we would be honored to feature your song here at A Soldier’s Mind. I sent you an email. We look forward to hearing your song! THANK YOU for doing what you do!
No problem, it’s what I do. Listen, I want to put in a good word for the fellow mechanics that I work with. I want them recognized for their hard work.
SGT Buchholz, Joseph L. For his dedication to protecting his soldiers from harm
SPC Bonilla, for exceptional work as a construction equipment repair mechanic and extensive knowledge as well
SPC Kim, for exceptional work as a ligt wheeled mechanic
SPC Arroyo-Santos for exceptional work as a construction equipment repair mechanic, and extensive knowledge as well
SSG Zoquier, as shop foreman, he exceeded the standards while keeping maintnance running strong.
SSG Rogers, though tough and sometimes hard on soldiers, He faught to keep us from working late nights and stood his ground for our platoon. He’s the motor sergeant, that came to our aid in the nick of time.
All of Bravo Company Maintnance, for their dedication to their job, nomatter how late we worked, we did until the job got done. I want to honor my fellow maintnance platoon. HOOAH!
Thank you and Godsbee
Thanks Brandon and please share our Thanks will your fellow soldiers for their dedication and sacrifice. Stay Safe Guys!
HOOAH!, I will let them know, and thanks again for your support. We’ll be home soon.
To Brandon Begley
First off -
I am impressed you have the discipline to compose under those circumstances. I study composition privately with a doctoral candidate in NYC while holding a day job and a part to quarter time organist position at a church and I find it difficult at times to focus on composition. As Bach said about his own music — “I worked very hard.”
I myself wrote a piano piece - 2 movements which I intend to record in April or May. I’d love to hear yours and share my work.
If I were to describe the piece stylistically, it is a cross between late Romantic and mid 20th century.
Questions -
What has been the reaction of those who have heard your sonata? I think the greatest challenge in music composition is to communicate your intentions well - even to musicians well acquainted with classical music.
Why do you gravitate stylistically toward the styles of Mozart and Beethoven? Great choices — my favorite symphony of Beethoven’s is the Eroica and for Mozart, the deservedly popular, G minor (especially the first movement).
Greetings Mr. Sahar,
It’s an honor to meet you, what inspired me to write the Sonata of War and Peace, were the deaths of 2 soldiers in our major subordinate command. CPL Edgin, who died on July 6 2006, and CPL Griener, who died on June 28 2006. I attended their funerals and it moved me. I never knew them, but they are my brothers in arms. I had to find a way to honor those who serve and four months after their funerals, I completed the Sonata of War and Peace. It is dedicated to all soldiers who have ever served in the past, those who serve now, and those who will serve in the future, and it is in memory of all soldiers who have fallen in the name of freedom.
I chose Mozart and Beethoven, because their style of music was what I grew up with, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and Mozart’s New World Synphony. Both pieces as you know are slow and very relaxing. They almost bring a tear to your eye when you listen to it. The Sonata of War and Peace, is a slow melencholly piece and is, to the best of my knowledge, the only piece that was written by a military soldier, in honor of soldiers who have fallen in combat. The only other piece that I know of is the 1812 Overture, which describes the moods of those on both sides who fought in 1812 for the war of independence. The Sonata of War and Peace is my piece, for all those who serve. As long as there is an Army, this sonata will represent those who serve.
My email address is:
email me and we’ll talk some more. I’m interested in your piece as well. Take care and I wish you “peace and prosperity, for all generations.”
SPC Brandon J. Begley
U.S. Army, Afghanistan
HOOAH!
Hey Chris, I’m sorry, I forgot to mention this, those people who heard my sonata were moved by it and they are proud of me. I have the support of my battalion, although, I never played it for my family, I hope they like it as well. I am thankful for everything I have, and nomatter how popular I may be, I will never abuse my status, after all, I’m humbled by the experiance and I’m proud to be able to find a way to honor my fellow comrades. It’s the least I can do for those brave men and women whom I fight along side with. I wanted to honor the past, the present, and the future. Our Army is everything and I feel that music is the best way to honor them, in my opinion.
Hi> I am a t-v newsman from fox 45 and abc 22 in dayton, Ohio.
I would love to do a story on Brandon Begley for our may sweeps period which is coming up.
Can I have a good phone number for him so I could do a phone interview and can I have a heads up on where I can hear the piece he wrote for the fallen troops.
I am a former member of the u-s army I got out when I was an e-6 with a little more than ten in. I am former infantry 25th division.Then I became a military broadcaster, Anyway. I will shed nothing but good lioght on your project.
sincery, don hammond. work is 937 262-2403 home is 937 274 3174. Hope you can help. don hammond
Don,
Currently Brandon is deployed, so I don’t have a phonenumber for him. I will contact him by email and have him contact you. I’m sure that he’ll be thrilled to know you’d like to do a story on him. So far he’s not released the song, but did say that he has plans in the works, once his deployment ends.
Terri
Hey Terry, how’s it going? Fine I hope, well, I’m chillin here in Hawaii and finally got my sonata onto myspace. Listen, can you foreward Chris Sahar’s email address to me? I want to get my music to him and hear his piece as well. I would really appreciate it. Thanks again.
HOOAH!
Thanks for stopping by Brandon. I’ll have to check out the finished project. I’ll get an email out to you shortly.
Terry, I just want you to know that I fully support A Soldier’s Mind. I am dedicated to the cause and whatever the government has planned for our forces, I am willing to carry out the orders that are given me, even if it means my own life, so be it. I’m a soldier, and I’m proud to be an American.
HOOAH!
Thanks Brandon and we appreciate your support. You can bet that we at A Soldier’s Mind will continue to do our part in ensuring that our Troops stories get out to the public.
[...] in March, I wrote a story about a young US Army Soldier serving in Afghanistan who composed a sonata in honor of two fellow Soldiers who had given their life in the name of [...]
I am Kevin Edgin’s mother and I would love to have a copy of “The Sonata of War and Peace”. How can I get a copy and thank you for honoring (my son Kevin) and Griner and all who serve in our Military, past, present and future.
Margaret,
I am terribly sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences. I will give you my sonata at no charge. If there is anything that I may say or do to comefort you please let me know. I never knew your son personally, but I will tell you this, he was an outstanding soldier, and a fine nco. He will never be forgotten, this I swear by all that is good. Please give me your mailing address, so I may send it to you without delay. Thank you and God bless you. I will keep you in my prayers.
Email me at I will send the music out asap.
Terri,
Sorry I have been bussy, Please let Margaret Edgin know that I am preparing to send out my CD to her at the address she provided me. She will be receiving 11 pieces that I composed over the scope of my musical career. The first 3 are the Sonata of War and Peace that she requested, it is my album War and Peace. Tell her that I thank her for her son’s sacrifice and that if she needs anything from me, that my door is always open to her and the Edgin Family. Email me, or send a letter via my deployment address anytime she feels like it.
Brandon.
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