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Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial
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Keywords:
war (111), death (130), world war one (3), flanders (1), field (2), canada (12), poppies (1), torch (1)
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Description:
This is an interpretation of the war poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian Army. McRae's poem is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915 at which he was a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade.
I had originally intended to have this ready and posted by November the 11th, but felt it wasn't ready. A big thanx to Alfalpha who helped me rework this into something worthwhile.
The vocals are by Gordon MacKenzie who read the poem for Librivox.org, the original of which is found here:
http://librivox.org/in-flanders-fields-by-john-mccrae/
Lyrics:
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Hardware:
iMac G5, Edirol PCR-A30
Software:
GB3
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Very impressed! &mdash 12/04/06 - 06:11:29 AM
Very moving Ross - for some reason, I get snippets of the Beach Boys "Holland" coming through - probably the spoken voice against the moving backing you've created. Excellent production with some beautiful sounds in there. Very impressed!
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Dark &mdash 12/04/06 - 06:12:59 AM
I can feel the soldiers move in 2 battle.
Very nice done.
Take care
Kenta
http://www.macjams.com/song/26765 [ Reply to This ]
Great piece &mdash 12/04/06 - 06:36:13 AM
Powerful voice, very good sounds and I agree with Jiguma and Skean...
More, I'm very impressed because I was born near Flanders and I know the significant memory of this war 1914-1918 with terrible battles...
Very well done, absolutely downloaded, thanks to share...
Marc [ Reply to This ]
Nicely done &mdash 12/04/06 - 10:27:38 AM
You gave the poem the respect it deserves with your treatment. Understated and clean - very good.
It reminded me a lot of "Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny Cash - another ode to the fallen.
Cheers. [ Reply to This ]
Excellent ! &mdash 12/04/06 - 05:35:11 PM
Very well done - the right mood for a poem and a theme like this.
Alf is great too :) [ Reply to This ]
a touching piece... &mdash 12/04/06 - 08:06:08 PM
...made all the more poignant by your musical additions Ross...
this was a trully enjoyable project. Thanks for letting me join in! [ Reply to This ]
chilling to the bones &mdash 12/04/06 - 10:37:51 PM
pretty much raises the hairs on the back of my neck, and forces me to offer a minute of silence for all those who fell to give us this world that so many seem to take for granted. Stunningly simple and powerful, well read, well instrumented... straight-on take... perfect! (shudders)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Relentless and powerful &mdash 12/11/06 - 09:35:50 PM
There's an incredible build to this which takes skill to achieve and you've certainly achieved it here - excellent production, really well done.
KK [ Reply to This ]
I'm here &mdash 12/12/06 - 03:02:09 PM
beause over the last 9 months I've laughed out loud most often reading your comments and forum posts... I thought "HMmm, we must go check out this clever fellow Ross"... Not at all disappointed... and it confirms what I suspected... A great sense of humor is an indication of a very active intelligence...(My own observation) ... anyway we haven't interacted much... but just wanted you to know that you've been appreciated from the cyber shadows... I will continue laughing
thanx [ Reply to This ]
WOW ..... &mdash 12/12/06 - 07:33:51 PM
... those "marching soldiers" sounds made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up ! I hear this poem every year on Remembrance day .. either as part of my son's school ceremonies ... or other venues .. but every year nonetheless .... nice job on the backing music for this ... so fitting. [ Reply to This ]
how do you do young Willie McBride? &mdash 12/12/06 - 07:45:08 PM
This absolutely gives me goosebumps. Amazing work. War is always a tragedy, so much more so when we forget its lessons. This was an absolute download. Much respect for the compostion and for keeping McCrae's words alive.
Like another man said:
...the killing and dying were all done in vain, for young Willie McBride, it all happened again and again and again and again."
[ Reply to This ]
Hard... &mdash 12/12/06 - 07:50:26 PM
a dismal scenario, this story told. I like this, but don't know how to comment properly with due respect for those lost... The graphic, a scene from places the world over. Just hard. I can almost relate this to a personal battle in some one's life, or end of life, the solo cross and a lonely pile of rocks for the grave marker left in their memory. . - Harold [ Reply to This ]
Excellent. &mdash 01/10/07 - 07:01:01 PM
I like reading about WW1.. one of my fav poems. The music in the bg is awesomse. Your voice is evil sounding almost. [ Reply to This ]
Well done &mdash 01/19/07 - 04:57:10 PM
I don't know if it's the graphic you used for the album art or the production itself, but this reminds me (in a good and powerful way) of elements within the film version of "The Wall." Compelling, every bootstep of the way. [ Reply to This ]
Wow, spooky... &mdash 01/22/07 - 07:04:06 PM
devastingly brilliant &mdash 01/28/07 - 09:36:04 PM
all i can say is OMG
------------
a little background on Red Poppies
i have read this before several times in different places, so i'm fairly sure i'm not propagating a myth here:
http://www.americanmeadows.com/QuickGuideToWildflowers/FavoriteWildflowerSpecies/TheRedPoppy.aspx
The once bucolic meadows of Flanders had long been graced by the brilliant red wildflowers each spring and summer, but during the Great War, the poppies disappeared. Since they are annuals, and grow quickly from seed each spring, the constant trampling and bombing of the battlefields simply stopped the famous bloom for four full seasons. When the war was over, and the poppies were able to bloom again, the display was spectacular. Actual seed counts were taken, and over 2,500 poppy seeds per square foot were found. [ Reply to This ]
Amazing sound bed and production &mdash 01/28/07 - 10:56:50 PM
beautifully executed. Great choices of instrunebts and playing - and the marching effect is brilliant. I love that we have the opportunity to make pieces like this that have no voice anywhere else. Well done. [ Reply to This ]
yes &mdash 01/29/07 - 03:21:07 PM
What this site is all about &mdash 01/30/07 - 07:04:21 PM
How great to have access to this sort of experimental stuff. Very interesting listen and you captured the theme perfectly. Gordon's got a very nice voice too. [ Reply to This ]
oh my &mdash 01/31/07 - 03:18:03 PM
this is really incredible. you should try to sell this or at least donate it to some kind of memorial or production where more people will hear it and be touched by it!
--s [ Reply to This ]
i'm only 10 seconds in... &mdash 02/12/07 - 01:50:06 AM
...and i have chills.
this is the third song of yours i've heard now, and I am absolutely impressed.
what you have done here is beautiful, and i take my hat off to you sir. [ Reply to This ]
powerful &mdash 02/21/07 - 07:28:44 PM
Lest we forget... &mdash 11/11/07 - 11:19:33 AM
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