An upcoming orchestral concert two years in the making will honour the world’s most famous ocean liner through music, singing, narration and video.
The Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra will bring Titanic: Commemoration Concert to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre stage on Saturday, April 27.
They’re calling it CMO’s most ambitious program to date, complete with Edwardian costumes, a handmade instrument, powerful visuals, and soprano Madison Mailey.
It’s a “huge undertaking” said Anne Fleming, violinist and board member with the CMO.
She’s the “brainchild” behind the ideas and creation of the production, said artistic director Gregory Johnson.
“It’s taken two years… it didn’t start of easy,” Fleming said.
She has been a follower of the Titanic since the age of eight when she first saw the iconic 1958 film A Night to Remember. She remembers asking her grandmother if she was aware of the sinking of the world’s largest ship and her grandmother replied that she recalled reading the story in the newspaper. That started a lifelong interest in things Titanic.
Fleming originally hoped to feature Titanic Requiem, a musical work by Robin Gibb written in 2012 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking, but she was unsuccessful in finding the score.
Instead, the CMO’s program will include pieces from the actual Titanic songbook and two Titanic pieces — one is the famous James Horner suite from the 1997 movie Titanic, and the other is Peter Boyer’s 1995 tone poem. A tone poem is a piece of music which illustrates a short story, or novel, for example.
Gregory calls Boyer’s piece very “descriptive.”
“You have the wave sound effects, you’ll have some of the pieces that the musicians would have played while the ship was sinking,” Johnson said. “(Boyer) was so talented he got to record with the London Symphony Orchestra.”
One unique item audience members will hear is a water gong. It’s a big gong on a pulley system which will be lowered into and raised out of a water bath. The water changes the pitch and alters the resonance. Orchestra trumpet player Ken Kimberly made it by hand using a conventional tam-tam.
To set the mood for the Edwardian period, the program will start with pieces from the songbook that was given to Titanic cruise guests in 1912. The orchestra will perform music one might have heard if they were promenading on the deck of the Titanic or enjoying a meal in the dining salon.
The second part of the program includes music from British composers, choral works with the Philomusica Chorus, and the narration of poem ‘Be British’ from a 1912 County Sligo newspaper, which will be read by Dr. Ralph Jones from the Chilliwack Players Guild.
The guild will also be adding an Edwardian atmosphere as members will be in the lobby and attending the concert dressed in Edwardian clothing. CMO board president Nigel Plumley will dress the part of Captain Edward J. Smith and he will be the emcee.
Audience members are encouraged to attend in Edwardian costume.
The finale of the evening will be the James Horner Titanic Suite featuring music from the 1997 movie. Joining the CMO for Horner’s suite will be soprano Madison Mailey, Philomusica, and Dr. Dan McDermid on the Irish tin whistle.
This will be Mailey’s second performance with the CMO. She has her bachelor of music from the New England Conservatory of Music. She also won an Olympic gold medal representing Canada on the women’s eight rowing team. Her grandparents, Dr. Derrick Rogers and Celia Rogers, live in Chilliwack and were former CMO members. She credits her grandparents for her love of music.
There will also be a silent auction in the lobby where people can bid on high-quality costume jewelry (including a replica of the ‘Heart of the Ocean’ necklace worn in the 1997 movie), three handmade throw quilts, an enamelled sign from Mayfair signs and other items. There will also be a special prize draw after intermission.
Titanic: Commemoration Concert by the Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra is Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors. Tickets available in person at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre Box Office, by calling 604-391-SHOW, or online at chilliwackculturalcentre.ca.
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