Emily Armour, a classical pianist and piano instructor from Cobble Hill, on Vancouver Island, has composed a suite called Stories from Yugoslavia: Reflections on Canadian Peacekeeping.
With Remembrance Day right around the corner, the recently recorded work is particularly timely.
The pieces are for solo piano and Armour says she was inspired by Canadian peacekeeping veterans who served in Croatia and Bosnia.
B次元官网网址淚 have been very fortunate to learn from these veterans and the subject matter is deeply personal. Their honesty, willingness to share, and patience, while I worked on this project has opened my eyes and helped me understand a very significant part of Canadian history. It is my hope that this work will inspire questions from those like me who once knew little about this conflict, and provoke further inquiry into veterans issues relating to peacekeeping.B次元官网网址�
The four movements listed in order are B次元官网网址楴o Birds in Sarajevo,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址楨legy,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址楾he Pocket,B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楨pilogueB次元官网网址�.
It was recorded in one live take at Silverside Sound Recording Studio in Cobble Hill. In the video caption there is a short poetic fragment written by the composerB次元官网网址檚 colleague, Lucas McKinnon:
B次元官网网址淗eavy arms anticipate
the burden of time.
As the last leaves fall,
we walk into pale woods.B次元官网网址�
Armour said she never planned on composing the work.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just been fortunate enough to know a few veterans who served overseas and hearing them talk about their experiences has really inspired me actually. I got my masters in music a few years ago but I never composed during that time period. Composing is a new thing for me.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e written for my students a bit B次元官网网址� a couple of pieces that are more accessible for kids B次元官网网址� but I havenB次元官网网址檛 written any pieces like this one.B次元官网网址�
Armour said she was inspired by her partner, who served overseas in Croatia, and other friends who are veterans.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just been really lucky to hear their stories. ItB次元官网网址檚 really opened my eyes about what peacekeeping really means and what it has done to the veterans who have done that particular thing.B次元官网网址�
Bosnia and Croatia are not conflicts that are on everybodyB次元官网网址檚 lips but the peacekeepers who went to the Balkans were all marked by that experience.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 maybe why I was kind of moved by it. These veterans who went there saw a lot of terrible things. They experienced PTSD. I think we need to acknowledge their sacrifices and honour them. I think itB次元官网网址檚 sometimes overlooked. That particular aspect of the military B次元官网网址� peacekeeping B次元官网网址� is misunderstood sometimes. Just to hear them talk about it highlighted how little I know about it.B次元官网网址�
Listening to the music and looking at the picture that accompanies the video (which is of ArmourB次元官网网址檚 partner) certainly makes the listener think about what happened there.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what I was hoping for. I didnB次元官网网址檛 really grow up learning about Canadians in Bosnia and Croatia, and I didnB次元官网网址檛 know how significant it was for the people living there and for the veterans who went there. My whole point was that people will hear and have questions about it, what it has been like for them, and maybe, if they know a veteran, to ask them about it. ItB次元官网网址檚 a significant time.B次元官网网址�
The poetic comment by McKinnon B次元官网网址� the owner of Silverside Recording Studio in Cobble Hill B次元官网网址� was inspired by his hearing the music.
B次元官网网址淗e also writes poems, and he came up with that fragment while I was playing. HeB次元官网网址檚 very insightful. He did a great job, understanding what I was playing.B次元官网网址�
lexi.bainas@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
Like us on and follow us on
