Finale reason for being

[ebiggs1]

Not a Finale question per say but a reason for the existence of Finale.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and instigated Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. There are no real signs of a way out of the conflict. My tribute to Ukraine as played by the Olathe Civic Band.

This is a story that makes all the hard and sometimes strenuous work composing or arranging a tune worthwhile for me at this concert. The Olathe Civic Band played “Prayer for Ukraine” at the Old Mahiffie Farmstead Concert. The Music Director asked me if I could get up and tell a little bit about the piece. I did so and then the band performed it. A spectacular if not emotional piece for sure.

After the concert, as we were packing up two ladies from the audience came up still with tears in their eyes and said they had just left (fled) Ukraine two weeks ago. The playing of “Prayer for Ukraine” meant so much to them they had to tell me how thankful they were for it. Moments like this don’t happen every day.
Ernie Biggs

[AnneMillington]

Do you have a recording of the performance?

[Zoots]

Definitely one of those things money can't buy.
Well done!

[ebiggs1]

Thank you both. Deeply emotional experience for certain. Like I told the audience, those folks (in Ukraine) are really up against it right now.
I can't u/l a recording because the forum limits file size drastically but I have a youtube from Finale and NP3. The two ladies recorded it on their iphones. Gosh, gonna make me tear up again thinking about it.
https://youtu.be/sMz0XtrFOhw

[N Grossingink]

Very admirable - well done.

[ebiggs1]

Thank you.

[Michel R E]

congratulations.
I had a very similar experience a few months ago, where my "Hymne" for strings was performed in a concert for Ukraine. A doctor, visiting from Ukraine, came to see me after the concert and told me how much it meant to her, and how surprised she was to hear composers from so far away being so involved with their cause.

[AnneMillington]

Thanks for the link. That's a beautiful arrangement; true to the emotion of the piece. Majesty and tragedy.

[AnneMillington]

Michael R, is your Hymne for strings available on line?

[N Grossingink]

I don't mean to hijack this discussion, but maybe the listeners on the forum might appreciate this.

In 1943 the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu was living in the US, having fled the war in Europe. He wrote Památník Lidicím (Memorial to Lidice) in response to the wholesale slaughter of an entire village in his native Czechoslavakia.

Here is a performance, with the score, of this hard-hitting work. Near the end, Martinu quotes the theme of Beethoven's 5th symphony once, not twice as Beethoven does - possibly suggesting that victory is yet to come. The work ends in the major key as a kind of benediction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Njc2EGfBI

[AnneMillington]

Thank you for that link, N Grossingink. What can be more hopeful than the C Major at the end. (Martinu is one of my favorites)

[N Grossingink]

Thank you for that link, N Grossingink. What can be more hopeful than the C Major at the end. (Martinu is one of my favorites)

You're welcome.