chamber music

"...amid the cannon's roar,"


Program Note:
We've heard about your trouble, Tom,
In rousting out the Boer;
You shall not fight out there alone
Amid the cannon's roar,
The blood that stirred our noble sires
To build up England's Fame,
Re-kindles in Colonial sons
Their prestige to maintain. For-

We are the boys of the Southern Cross
Our stars shine on our flags-
Emblazoned with the Union Jack,
To show we're Empire lads.

From storm-torn hills where tussocks wave,
And dells where tree-ferns grow;
From snow-capp'd peaks, and rock-bound coast,
We come,-to strike the blow.
Rest, British sons, till South-cross boys
Canadian brothers meet-
Then on we'll press, an Empire's strength,
And make the foe retreat. For-
...

excerpted from Boys of the Southern Cross


"...we'll do deeds to follow on our words..."


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program note:

Now we're rous'd we've buckled on our swords, 
We've done with diplomatic lingo, 
We'll do deeds to follow on our words, 
We'll show we're something more than "jingo."
And though Old England's laws do not her sons compel To military duties do,
We'll play them at their game, and show them all the same, 
An Englishman can be a soldier too, 
An Englishman can be a soldier too. 
So when we say that England's master,
Remember who has made her so.

- Soldiers of the King written and composed by Leslie Stuart.

Performed by Wesley Shen at the Chalmers House Canadian Music Centre on August 17, 2017.


"long to reign over us"


program note:

“The fairies, besides being vengeful, are also very arrogant, and allow no interference with their old-established rights”
― Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde

"Long to Reign Over Us"
from "...amid the cannon's roar,", released June 2, 2018

performed by Amahl Arulanandam (cello) Sara Constant (flute), Wesley Shen (piano), Aysel Taghi-Zada (violin)

Recorded by Paul Talbott at the Glenn Gould Studio with assistant engineer Pouya Hamid.

Mastered by Sage Kim at Lacquer Channel.