The Australian War Memorial is showcasing its collection of sheet music and concert programs for the first time.
Artistic Director and Musical Artist-in-Residence at the Memorial in Canberra, Christopher Latham has recorded a series of musical pieces from the collection, selected by Senior Curator, Theresa Cronk.
Mr Latham said it should come as no surprise to discover that music of all kinds played an important role in World War I.
“Music was performed or sung by soldiers, often in the most modest and humble of circumstances,” Mr Latham said.
“It helped them come to terms with the war’s unresolvable contradictions — slaughter and heroism, kindness and savagery, beauty and barbarity — which lived side-by-side throughout the war.”
Director of the Memorial, Brendan Nelson said that in many ways music provided people with a way to frame and understand their experiences of war.
“With the conclusion of the centenary [of World War I] it is important to remember the impact war had on all aspects of society, especially in the decades that followed,” Dr Nelson said.
“Music created and popularised during the war went on to become incredibly important to the soldiers, sailors, nurses, and airmen who served, and the music stayed with these men and women long after they returned home.”
He said there were currently 20 songs that could be listened to and downloaded on the Memorial website and other good streaming services with another 80 songs to be released onto the Memorial’s website throughout 2019.
The Memorial’s music collection can be accessed at this PS News link.
