The work concerns the WikiLeaks disclosures of United States Army soldier Chelsea Manning.
[4] The piece features four singers embedded in the audience, a seven-piece musical ensemble, and four video screens.
[3][6] The Source was commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects, who also produced the work's premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in October 2014, directed by Daniel Fish.
[8] According to the composer, Chelsea Manning has heard the piece (played for her over the phone by her supporters while she was imprisoned), and liked it.
[10][11] The West Coast tour continued with a run at the San Francisco Opera beginning in February 2017.