The ‘POW Requiem’
The music from this concert is currently being mastered and is expected to be completed for download in late 2023
Image//erinhanson.com
Another memorable and moving experience…
Another unforgettable orchestral concert will tell the stories of WWII veterans who became Prisoners of War and internees through powerful music and imagery. The 4th in the series of commemorative concerts will be a unique musical event steeped in history.
Audiences will learn a great deal about life as a Prisoner of War or internee and will gain a fascinating glimpse into how they coped with captivity both here and abroad. The concert will highlight the importance of music and culture as it kept prisoners’ minds off their dire situation and gave them hope of survival.
There will be many stories told from different perspectives, mostly little known about this time in the nation's history. As an example, the women and children who created the Women's Vocal Orchestra in Sumatra who used their voice as they had no instruments to play, and the AIF Concert Party who created the 'Changi Songbook' primarily to boost morale.
The composers include Sir Jonathan Mills AO, Elena Kats-Chernin AO, Graeme Koehne AO, Andrew Schultz, Cyrus Meurant and Ross Edwards AM, along with British composers Paul Carr and Paul Mealor, who will tell other stories through newly composed or arranged movements. Some more familiar than others, such as the Thai Burma Railway, the Sandakan March and the Cowra Breakout. These commissions have been made possible by the Australian War Memorial through the generosity of Metal Manufactures Limited.
The Canberra Symphony Orchestra will be joined on stage by guests Susannah Lawergren (returning from the 'Vietnam Requiem'), Andrew Goodwin, Dr Riley Lee, Alice Giles AM, Australian Defence Force musicians, the ANU School of Music Chamber Orchestra and combined choirs and Narrator Neil Pigot - over 120 performers in all.
We wish this concert to be an opportunity to remember all those who were Prisoners of War and internees. We also wish to further reconcile the relationship with Japan by following in the slipstream of those who moved to restore relations between our two countries even straight after the war’s end.
For further information or if you require any assistance to navigate to buy tickets please call the General Manager, Joanne Fisher on 0438952263.
Featured composer, Sir Jonathan Mills shares his composer notes regarding the Sandakan Threnody.
This witty and uplifting song, here sung by Andrew Goodwin and Tobias Cole, is from the ‘Changi Songbook’ and was written down and sold to buy food. It will be performed again in the ‘POW Requiem’.
Hear how important culture is for captives and how it can transport and give hope….
Learn more about the Director’s creative vision and what he hopes to achieve through this concert…
This song was composed by Slim de Grey, from the AIF Changi Concert Party. His pal was taken from Changi to Sandakan and despite pleas from Slim to accompany him, he was refused because his value was far greater in the camp to boost morale. Slim’s anguish and sadness is evident. Nine of the Changi Songbook songs (including this one) will be performed in the Requiem.