Remembrance

Text from the diary and letters of Colonel William Malone

Commissioned by Whangarei Youth Music and the Whangarei RSA

Premiere: 27 March 2011 at the inaugural Field of Remembrance Ceremony
Massed singers from Whangarei
Whangarei Youth Music Concert Band, conductor Shane Burns
Laurie Hall Park, Whangarei

Premiere (choir and brass band): 26 August 2018
Pakuranga Choral Society
Howick Brass Band, conductor Anthony Young
East City Wesleyan Church, Auckland

Programme Note

The first time I heard Col. William Malone’s famous letter read I was instantly moved by its simple and heart-felt sincerity. Malone wrote the letter to his wife, his ‘sweet heart’, not knowing that he would be dead the following day and yet there is an element of premonition and finality to his words.

On reading the book No Better Death, the collected letters and diaries of Malone, we discover a man who had an optimistic outlook and a desire to see that things were done well. Malone saw that fighting for his country and for the empire was an honourable occupation and one that was worthy of the ultimate sacrifice.

The English text for Remembrance is a collection of lines and fragments from his letters and diaries, including the famous letter. Some of the text has been modified to suit a melodic line and words of matching sentiment that may be from different diary entries and letters have at times been placed together.

The verses from the Book of Jeremiah tell of the prophet’s vision of a world devoid of form and light, where the land and mountains shake, all people and living things have fled, and all natural and man-made creations are laid waste. These verses seemed appropriate to the destruction and carnage of war, images most associated with ANZAC Day and remembrance services. The contrast of author, tone, subject and spiritual depth seemed an ideal place to contrast the language and I felt it was important that the Maori language was represented in this work.

When I think of the veterans, the things that come to mind are not men and women who see themselves as heroes, nor as people who desire to be pitied for the horrors they have witnessed or the rigors they have borne, but strong, humble New Zealanders who quietly represent that which we as a country are most proud. In commemorating those who did not return home, I thought it most appropriate to remind ourselves that those men and women were young, hopeful and eager to do their duty, aware of the danger they faced and loved their family tremendously.

In our darkest hours, we are reminded of what is truly important.

Commissioned with the assistance of the Sounz Community Commission.