D-Day Concert

Presented by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Roy Goodman

and by the students of

Faraday School

George V School

Robert Browning School

and

The St. James Assiniboia Divisional Children's Choir

A rehearsal session at Faraday School with members of the Faraday School Instrument Club and members of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.  Pictured are (from left): Margaret Askelund, cello; Paul Nagelberg, bass, Suzanne McKegnie, viola, Boyd MacKenzie, violin; and Fred Liessens, percussion.

The students and guest musicians are working out the sound effects which will augment the following poem, written by the students.  The students also composed musical themes to accompany the poem.

Battle

Written By Faraday Students

British, American, Canadian, French

Waiting for the word to go.

In the darkness,  loading warships

With tanks and guns to fight the foe.

 

Sailors, soldiers, men with courage

Moving South to Normandy

To beaches waiting for the soldiers

Who gave them names for history.

 

JUNO BEACH, GOLD BEACH

UTAH, SWORD, OMAHA.

 

Waves and wind and misty sunrise,

Roar of guns and shrieks of pain,

Fear and panic all around them

Comrades lost.   So many slain.

 

Determined in their fight for freedom

As they try the beach to gain.

 

JUNO BEACH, GOLD BEACH

UTAH, SWORD, OMAHA.

Children of War

Written by Robert Browning Students

Children of war,  sorrowful, sad

Crying and weeping

Nightmares when they're sleeping

Frightened, in pain

Playing war games,

Trapped!

 

Children of peace

Playing in safety

Joyful and happy,

That's how it should be.

 

Why do we live in peace and contentment

When others are trapped?

 

We all should be free.

 

The students participated in many rehearsal sessions with the musicians of the Chamber Orchestra.  Below, Frederick Liessens coaches a student.

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This page updated September 2002