Requiem for the Fallen

— Between War and Peace —

The famed wartime poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, was written at the battlefront during WWI. Decades later, as a teenager, I read the poem and rode my bike through the fields of crosses in Flanders.

Years ago, I composed the Oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ as a tribute to the victims of foreign wars and to honor our veterans. I included ‘In Flanders Fields’ in the lyrics because these verses had struck me: ‘To you… we throw the torch; if ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep’. Freedom is not free.

During WWII, on D-day June 6, 1944, thousands of Allied troops and members of the Resistance died in Normandy as they secured the beachhead that would lead to the freedom of Europe. The Fallen of that day never knew what the world owes them for their sacrifice. That day remains a most poignant symbol. . *** The Oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ was first played in 2018 in southwest France for the Centennial of WWI. The mayors of two towns attended the event in the church of Saint-Clar, Fleurance. Most of the young players in the orchestra had a relative who was a soldier in WWI. In 2019, the large version of the Oratorio premiered at Carnegie Hall, New York, with the Consul of Belgium attending.

In hope for peace, two more performances took place in Moscow. In 2020, the U.S. Embassy financed an event in commemoration of the WWII alliance. In late 2021, a concert took place downtown and afterwards, guests waved ‘heart’ and ‘I love you’ signs to us over Zoom, and a Bishop called the Oratorio ‘Music for Peace’. Tragically, ten weeks later, Ukraine was invaded. Years later there is no end in sight to a conflict that has left hundreds of thousands of victims.

The first Piano Concerto ‘Imagine New York’ evoking Freedom and the Statue of Liberty, opened the 2021 concert. To keep expanding this image of hope and optimism, I composed the Alto Saxophone Concerto ’Springtime in Chicago’, followed, in 2024, by the Cantata ‘The Bells of Hope’ and the Toccata ‘Resolve and Pride’ for piano, echoing the fiery spirit of resistance already expressed in Frederic Chopin’s compositions as he witnessed the invasions of Poland. . *** The second Piano Concerto ‘Between War and Peace’ for the left hand illustrates the determination to focus on peace and joy. The concerto closes on a bolero dance contrasting with the description of war in the first movement.

Artworks reflect the times of their creation. What does it say about us when pieces like the Oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ and the Piano Concerto ‘Between War and Peace’ find their moment while the world is incapable of living in peace? Does it say more about the thirst for violence or about the search for justice? . *** Videos of the Oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’, the Piano Concerto ‘Imagine New York’ and other works are posted under VIDEOS. Since 2023, pandemic and wars have prevented additional events.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our places; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders Fields.

by: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
MD (1872 – 1918)
Canadian Army