THE POPPIES OF FLANDERS FIELDS

. ‘The Bells of Hope’

The wartime poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ was written in 1915 at the battlefront during WW I. Many decades later, as a teenager, after having read the poem by John McCrae, I raced on my bike through the red poppies and the memorial crosses of the Flanders fields.

Years later, I composed the oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ Op. 50 for soprano, choir and orchestra, as a tribute to the Fallen and the victims of all wars and violence, and chose ‘In Flanders Fields’ for the main lyrics. I had been struck by the verses: “To you … we throw the torch; if ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep …”. Freedom is not free.

The original version of the Oratorio was played in 2018 in France for the centennial of WW I. The expanded version of ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ premiered in October 2019 at Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall), New York, with the Consul of Belgium in attendance.

Additional performances took place in Moscow. First, in late 2020 with the support of the American Embassy to commemorate the alliance in WW II, then in December 2021 as a concert for peace, two months before the invasion of Ukraine.

Because of the threat of invasion — of violence — I did not attend the 2021 concert which opened with the Concerto for piano and orchestra ‘Imagine New York’ Op. 39. The broad piano gestures evoke calls for freedom and the Statue of Liberty. Afterwards, guests in the audience, including an orthodox Bishop, commented over Zoom. They made “heart” and “I love you” signs with their hands, and the Bishop, pointing to the golden cross on his chest, recognized the Oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ as “Music for Peace”. They were hoping for peace and praying for peace. By “Music for peace”, The bishop probably reminded us that we are all sisters and brothers.

To echo these hopeful expressions of peace I composed the piano Toccata ‘Resolve and Pride’ Op. 62 in honor of Ukraine, and the Cantata ‘The Bells of Hope’ Op. 63 for soprano, choir and orchestra. Art and music can unite people. The Oratorio, the Cantata, the Piano Concerto and the Toccata are calls for respect. Slava Ukraini!’ - Glory to Ukraine. . *** The catalog of compositions includes short and large works for piano, voice solos and duets, orchestra with or without choir, including an opera, an oratorio, a cantata, and concertos for piano and clarinet. A selection has been played at numerous events and festivals in America and in Europe, including at the Nuits Musicales en Armagnac Summer Festival; at the Jeunes Talents Concert Series (Auditorium Colbert, Paris) under the auspices of the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art; at the Kauffman Center (Merkin Hall), New York; at Carnegie Hall (Weil Hall, Zankel Hall), New York; at the Université de Liège, Belgium; in Melbourne, Florida; at the Stephaniensaal, Graz, Austria; in Fleurance, France; and in Moscow at Mosfilm Studios, the Tsereteli Art Gallery, the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. . *** Videos of the Oratorio ‘Requiem for the Fallen’ and the Piano Concerto ‘Imagine New York’ are posted in the ‘Videos' section. Since 2023, pandemic and wars have curtailed 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