A weekend of activities honored the memory of the sacrifices made during the First World War. This year was particularly meaningful as it marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended that most destructive and horrific conflict.
On Friday night, November 9, the carillon played a prelude to a collaborative concert that united the Case Concert Choir, the Church of the Covenant choir and the Case Orchestra in music of consolation and peace. A highlight of the evening was the world premier of a piece commissioned for the event by the Friends of Music at Church of the Covenant to honor the Armistice anniversary, the 50th anniversary of the McGaffin carillon, and the 10th anniversary of Jonathan Moyer as the church’s director of music. The composer, David Childs, conducted his work, Solas, that included a carillon prelude.
On Sunday morning, Solas was repeated at the end of morning worship at the church ending exactly at 11 a.m. when the bourdon bell of the carillon tolled 100 times at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the time 100 years ago when the guns went silent.
On Sunday afternoon at 3:30 Covenant and University Circle Carillonneur, George Leggiero, played a program that included McGaffin Flourish written by Jennifer Conner for the carillon’s anniversary and two pieces written for the dedication of war memorial instruments in the 1920s, Memorial Chimes by Edward Elgar, and Fantasie in d by Bryan Barker. The concert also included Sacred Suite by Geert D’hollander. That piece was commissioned for that day’s dedication of a peace carillon in Leuven, Belgium. Carillons around the world were joining in with performances of their own.
At 4:00 at the Church of the Covenant was a commemoration in music and literature. Readings from soldier’s letters, war diaries, and poetry reflecting on the war, as well as music by composers affected by the war was a moving tribute.
Links to information about the programs.
Daniel Hathaway previewed the weekend in an article in ClevelandClassical.com
George Leggiero was interviewed by Mark Satola for WCLV and WCPN.