Our youngest son Scott, who sang with Amabile Boys and Men’s
Choirs for a decade, couldn’t be there for the annual Amabile In
Remembrance concert this year. It was always his favourite concert of
the season, but now as a Lieutenant, on active military duty with 414 Squadron,
Ottawa, he joined thousands of others at the National War Memorial for the
Remembrance Day ceremony there. He
called and asked me to “thank the guys for singing today... and for remembering.”
(In full disclosure: I had the best seat in the house, as the narrator for the
afternoon.) He would have been proud as the world-renowned Amabile Boys and Men’s
Choirs continued its annual tribute and London, Ontario tradition to those who
gave their lives in the name of Freedom...and those, like Scott who serve
today.
Each year, the choirs choose a special theme of remembrance
and this year, they focused on the stories of women impacted by war. The
concert opened with Caccini’s “Ave Maria,” the most well-known story of a
mother who tragically lost her only son – majestic simplicity in the amazing
acoustics of the cathedral. And then all four boys and men’s choirs told of
those left behind in song and story: a young wife, turned aircraft mechanic to
support her young son; an 18 year-old girl assigned to the records department
who coordinated paperwork as soldiers departed, full of hope and pride.
The repertoire always features a significant number of
selections by Canadian composers, and oftentimes original compositions and
arrangements by members of Primus, Amabile Men’s Choir. This year featured the
poignant “Soldier’s Cry” arranged by Trent Worthington, “Carrickfergus” by Mark
Sirett, “ and an arrangement of “In Flanders Fields.” The highlight of the
concert was a signature piece commissioned specially for this concert by Primus
from London composer, Jeff Christmas, entitled “Remember” for the laying of the
wreathe by Grace Shewan, WWII veteran and war bride. The cathedral acoustics
echoed as trumpeter, Gwyn Beynon, played the Last Post and Reveille, and the ceremony
came to a close with an uplifting arrangement of Stephen Schwartz’s “Beautiful
City” from Godspell -- Out of the ruins and rubble; Out of the smoke; Out of our
night of struggle; Can we see a ray of hope? One pale thin ray reaching for the
day. We can build a beautiful city, Yes, we can; We can build a beautiful city,
Not a city of angels. But we can build a city of man, Brick by brick, heart by
heart, we can start learning now.
After a rousing singalong with the audience of
WWI and WWII favourites, the incredible afternoon came to a close, all too
soon. One could see, by the tears on
faces and the hush in the stillness, that the messages of peace, hope and love
were felt and heard.
Scott is hopeful that he can make it for next year’s concert,
to thanks the guys in person.
