Lest We Forget pays tribute to the fallen

PREVIEW

Lest We Forget … A Musical Tribute

Cosmopolitan Music Society and Royal Canadian Legion

Sunday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.

Winspear Centre

9720-102 Ave.

Tickets at 780-432-9333 or email [email protected]

Cosmopolitan Music Society’s annual Lest We Forget ... A Musical Tribute is once again a stark reminder of the importance of peace.

Playing out in full regimental colours at Winspear Centre on Sunday, Nov. 3, it is a Remembrance Day salute to veterans and the war dead whose blood has soaked the earth in the name of freedom.

“We are in the middle of crazy world events. We have been complacent in our safety, complacent in our privilege. If we allow ourselves to indulge in hatred, things like what happened in World War II can happen again. It’s already creeping up in Edmonton, across the world, and especially the horrible things happening in the United States,” said Taina Lorenz, CMS music director and conductor.

“Anyone who pays attention to world news can see what is happening. We have to remember the past and be very grateful to be living in a country that is free, loving and peaceful.”

This year, CMS celebrates three major anniversaries. The first is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, a major battle that put Canadian soldiers at the forefront of the poorly planned Normandy invasion. It resulted in more than 5,000 Canadians making the ultimate sacrifice.

It’s also the 75th anniversary of the Italian Campaign, a bitter struggle over rough mountainous terrain that claimed 26,000 Canadian casualties.

And finally, it is the 100th anniversary since Canada first observed the First World War’s Armistice Day. Although the armistice on Nov. 11, 1918, marked the cessation of hostilities between the Allies and Germany, the actual observance was not conducted until a year later, Lorenz explained.

Lest We Forget not only acknowledges Canadian Forces who took part in Europe’s two great wars. It also honours the Canadian Armed Forces who served during the Korean War, Gulf War and Afghanistan, as well as peacekeepers posted around the world.

Lorenz has artfully selected concert music that draws out heartfelt emotions the voice cannot utter.

One of the highlights is Take a Breath, a healing song composer David Rivett wrote for his father, a veteran of D-Day who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It’s stunningly beautiful and heart-wrenching. It’s pretty powerful stuff,” Lorenz said.

The Royal Canadian Legion requested one of their favourites for this program – Robert W. Smith’s Inchon. It was inspired by the Inchon-Seoul campaign and is dedicated to Smith’s father, a Korean War veteran.

“It’s got these really cool surround sound helicopter bomb effects.”

The Tuesday Band plays Robert Buckley’s and Bob Baker’s The Gathering of Eagles, a piece of music that is part of the Squamish aural tradition.

“The First Nations were very instrumental to Canada and they have received little recognition. It is important the Canadians recognize we are on Treaty 6 Land, and Indigenous cultural influences need to be respected."

Once again, the chorus and Monday Night Band perform a medley of popular wartime tunes including Over the Hills to Sicily, Marching to Berlin and The Quartermaster’s Song.

Prior to the concert, the CMS Jazz Big Band warms up the evening with some mellow tunes. A first-year player with CMS, St. Albert Gazette city reporter Hannah Lawson, will be wailing on the tenor sax for this concert.

As part of the reed section of the 30-member Jazz Big Band, Lawson will embrace various big band charts, including Bye Bye Birdie, Honeysuckle Rose and In the Mood.

A silent auction and lobby entertainment by the CMS Jazz Big Band starts at 6 p.m.