The Uncarved Blog

Composer and singer/songwriter Jane Roman Pitt and Iowa landscape photographer Ken West, both of Fairfield, officially presented the music video “Iowa Gold” to Gov. Terry Branstad Wednesday afternoon in the State Capitol Building in Des Moines.

Earlier Wednesday, Pitt and West were interviewed by Charity Nebbe on Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa. The interview can be heard at http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-gold-and-wisconsin-heroes.

A tribute to the richness of Iowa’s farm culture, people and rural landscapes, “Iowa Gold” was produced solely for noncommercial use to promote the beauty of Iowa and the state’s scenic byways.

Rep. Dave Heaton lauded “Iowa Gold” as “so beautiful, both in sight and sound, that says so much about our state.”

Barbara Sletto, director of the Heartland Youth Choir, which was scheduled to perform “Iowa Gold” 2-3 p.m. today on the Budweiser Stage at the Iowa State Fair, praised the song.

“The words are great and the melody is very singable — the song is great,” she said.

Pitt said she was inspired to write her “love song to Iowa” because the state embodies the principles on which America was founded

“The freedom to own land and the choice to live in cities or open spaces,” she said. “And Ken’s beautiful landscape photos reflect the feelings of pride for our state that I tried to convey in the song.”

West described “Iowa Gold” as a song Iowa school children or anyone can relate to with contemporary lyrics easy to sing.

“We hope our video inspires the next generation to appreciate and care for the land they are inheriting,” West said.

Pitt is a recording artist, songwriter, and composer. She is winner of the grand prize at the International Amadeus Choral Competition and her “Midnight Lullaby” CD received a “Parents’ Choice Award,” an award that honors the best material in children’s media.

West’s images have been featured on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Outdoors” and at the National Center for Nature Photography, which is America’s first and only center devoted exclusively to nature photography.

More information on both artists can be found on the Iowa Gold website at www.iowagoldsong.com.

Related Information: Heartland Youth Choir IPTV’s “Iowa Outdoors” Iowa Gold Iowa Public Radio

Published with permission from The Fairfield Ledger

Related news: Fairfield Artists and Musicians Share in Iowa Gold for more information and other news coverage. Laura Simon reports collaboration of composer and landscape photographer to showcase Iowa.