For the Fallen – Remembering our heritage with music for choir and brass

November 9, 2009 · Filed Under Festival News, News

The Ottawa Chamber Music Society, in partnership with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, present a poignant concert, For the Fallen, on Saturday, November 14, 8 PM at Dominion-Chalmers United Church.

The Cantata Singers of Ottawa and Capital BrassWorks join forces in a unique and powerful performance in honour of Canada’s military heroes, past and present, and in commemoration of Remembrance Day. This contemplative program expresses the deep-felt emotions triggered by moving moments in history.

The Cantata Singers of Ottawa is one of the foremost choirs in Eastern Ontario. Founded in 1964, the choir is now being directed by internationally renowned choral conductor Michael Zaugg who is taking the choir in new and exciting directions. The choir supports local and national composers by commissioning and performing their works. For this concert, Christopher Hossfeld will be the guest conductor.

Since its inaugural concert in June 1999, Capital BrassWorks has attracted enthusiastic audiences and seen its popularity grow by leaps and bounds. The group includes some of Canada’s finest brass players and percussionists drawn primarily from the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Guest artists from the Toronto and Montreal symphony orchestras have also taken part in concerts and recordings.

This commemorative concert will feature many moving and reflective pieces, including Rudolf Mauersberger’s motet of mourning, Wie liegt die Stadt so wüst, written after a massive air raid on February 13, 1945 destroyed the inner city of Dresden and killed some 25,000 people. The Kreuzkirche (Church of the Cross) remained standing, but its interior was gutted and the choir school destroyed. The motet was given its first performance in the gutted church in the same year. Also on the programme will be London Miniatures by Gordon Langford, O Nata Lux by Canadian composer Rob Teehan, an arrangement by Capital BrassWorks’ Angus Armstrong called Tommy’s Tunes inspired by Tommy Dorsey and the big bands, Hymn to the Fallen by John WiIliams from the movie Saving Private Ryan, and a WORLD PREMIERE performance of Shell Shocked by Michal Novotny, and others.

“Helping other organizations in the community achieve their goals while adding quality and programming diversity to our own concert offerings is a winning formula. Collaborating with the Cantata Singers and Capital BrassWorks gives us the opportunity to commemorate Remembrance Day on a grand scale,” says Artistic Director Roman Borys.

Ticket Information
Full 2009-2010 Concert Series details are available on the OCMS’ website at www.chamberfest.com.
Single tickets range from $30 – 47. Discounted student pricing is also available.

Subscription benefits include: access to the best seats in the house, a 40% savings off single tickets, and the ability to exchange tickets for other concerts during the season. For more information, please contact the OCMS office at
613-234-6306.

The next two concerts in the series will feature the internationally renowned Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn performing on November 26 and with the Gryphon Trio on November 27.

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Tags: Chamber Music, concert, Dominion-Chalmers United Church, Ottawa Chamber Music Society, Ottawa events