Echoes of the Silent

(Remembering the Halifax Explosion of 1917)

by
Robert Buckley

Ensemble: Concert Band

Grade: 3

Duration: 05:15

Year of Composition: 2017

Commissioned by: Second Chances Community Band

Premiered by: Second Chances Community Band (Chris Ward, director)

Date of Premiere: May, 2018

Publisher: Hal Leonard

Year of Publication: 2018

Publisher Catalog Number: 04005355

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Flute 1,2
Oboe
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinet 1
B♭ Clarinet 2
B♭ Clarinet 3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Sax 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpet 1
B♭ Trumpet 2,3
F Horn 1,2
Trombone 1,2
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
Mallet Percussion 1
Timpani

Commissioned by the Second Chances Community Band Program of Nova Scotia (Chris Ward, director), and premiered at the 5th annual Halifax Community Band Festival.


Program Notes:

At 8:00am on December 6th, 1917, a French munitions ship accidentally collided with a Norwegian ship in the harbour of Halifax, Canada. The resulting explosion caused a tsunami and a pressure wave that devastated most of the city. On top of that, the largest blizzard in that decade came the next day. As is often the case with disasters, many brave heroes came forth and risked their lives to give assistance and aid. Echoes of the Silent is a hymn that pays homage to those who perished and to the resilient souls of those who survived. It starts with eight bells, which represents the way a fallen sailor is honoured and also represents the time of the collision. The music that follows is reverent and reflective, with emotional ebbs and swells and an eventual build to a stirring theme of hope and inner strength. The piece ends as it opened, with quiet respect.

(Robert Buckley)