Peace Triumphant: 1945

​Our upcoming concert, Peace Triumphant: 1945, has become almost a mission with MTS. This was a concert that was planned for the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. Since we already had the music and several of our members were with us 5 years ago preparing for it, I chose to resurrect the theme. In addition, there are fewer and fewer WWII veterans still with us. We hope to be able to contact and invite those who are in our area. We must never forget those 16 million men and nearly 350,000 women who were in uniform and contributed to the fight for our freedom.
 
The music was carefully chosen to emphasize the fight and valor of those soldiers and eventual victory, but also consider the ultimate peace at the War’s end; hence the title, Peace Triumphant: 1945.
 
For this concert, I have included some familiar stirring chestnuts, like Wilhousky’s “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” We will also present some of the lighter side that will include some popular songs of the day, such as “Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” and “Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning,” by Irving Berlin. I am also including a couple of specially selected and researched pieces. During my research at the time, I thought there might be something out there that would celebrate or at least acknowledge the Tuskegee Airmen. Through some digging, somehow, I came across “The Tuskegee Airmen Fight Song,” of which I scored an arrangement. I thought it appropriate to acknowledge those lost in the Holocaust. I found Stephen Glass’ arrangement of “Eili, Eili,” a musical homage to those six million.
 
We are including the works of Howells, Haydn, Holst, and Ireland, all with themes of peace. The central work is Vaughan Williams’ majestic and moving “A Song of Thanksgivin,” originally titled “Thanksgiving for Victory,” which he was commissioned to compose in 1944, in anticipation of the Allied victory. Dutch soprano, Josefien Stoppelenburg will be joining us for the soprano solo.
 
We have invited some WWII veterans as well as some special dignitaries. All in all, it will be an extraordinary an event and one that should not be missed!

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