Amazing Grace is the kind of song you expect to hear at a memorial service, but when it sounded through the U.S. Naval Academy during the funeral service of U.S. Senator John McCain last week, it was a version composed by EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 .
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been out there for a while,B次元官网网址� he says of the piece he composed more than 20 years ago that includes a choral accompaniment and bagpipes and was performed by the Brophy Student Ensemble of Phoenix, Arizona.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so plaintive,B次元官网网址� he describes. B次元官网网址淚t just goes into your heart and can make you weep when you hear the pipes and hear the music floating over you.B次元官网网址�
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Hatfield, who grew up in 1950s Langford, credits his parents for providing him with an education in music.
B次元官网网址淢y parents busted themselves to get me good piano lessons,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 feel really fortunate to have had this career because I didnB次元官网网址檛 expect it. I didnB次元官网网址檛 think I was talented enough.B次元官网网址�
Now a world-renowned choral composer, Hatfield B次元官网网址� who has worked with choirs in Washington, D.C. B次元官网网址� says he was B次元官网网址渢ickled pinkB次元官网网址� to have his music be part of a public mourning for a man who he felt had both dignity and honour.
B次元官网网址淚 admired the man,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淗e had a rather anodyne idea of what U.S. military intervention might accomplish but given his background he had the right.B次元官网网址�
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McCain, who died Aug. 25 at the age of 81, after a year-long battle with brain cancer, was a prisoner of the Vietnam war who served his country politically for 35 years, including a run for president on the Republican ticket with then-Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.
Hatfield isnB次元官网网址檛 sure if McCain personally chose his version of Amazing Grace after it was widely reported the Senator had planned much of his own funeral, to which he did not invite President Donald Trump.
Regardless, to think his B次元官网网址渓ittle piece of musicB次元官网网址� could be a part of such a B次元官网网址渄eep public expression of griefB次元官网网址� leaves Hatfield heartened.
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These days, HatfieldB次元官网网址檚 creative outlet is working with local a capella group, . Having long admired the work of Lynda Raino, Hatfield calls the chance to connect with the trio musically, B次元官网网址渢he ultimate fan story.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 just love working with them,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so different from a concert choir. ItB次元官网网址檚 just so cool to think that hereB次元官网网址檚 somebody of whom I was such a big fan and they pull me aboard. ItB次元官网网址檚 so rewarding.B次元官网网址�
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