Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Parliament Hill's carillon bells to mark 1914 Christmas truce

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Dec, 2014 05:24 PM

    OTTAWA — Around the biggest of the 53 carillon bells hanging in the Peace Tower reads the inscription, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill towards men" — words taken from Luke's Christmas passage in the Bible.

    When the tower and its carillon were unveiled in 1927, they were a tribute to peace after the traumatic First War War.

    It's perhaps fitting then that on Christmas Eve this year, the carillon will be among 99 instruments in 11 countries to commemorate the 1914 Christmas Truce.

    The truce was a spontaneous laying down of arms in various places along the western front by German, Belgian and British soldiers that first year of the war. (Canadians had not yet joined them in combat).

    Accounts of that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day talk of meals shared, carols sung, games of soccer, and even a collective effort to bury the war dead.

    Dominion Carillonneur Andrea McCrady is set to play "Silent Night" at about 12:15 on Dec. 24, as part of the agreement with the World Carillon Federation. The University of Toronto's Soldiers' Tower carillon is also ready to participate.

    "In his dedicatory speech, Mackenzie King waxed quite eloquent, saying this was the song of the angels, heard 2,000 years ago in Judea, and now the carillon becomes the voice of the nation in remembrance and thanksgiving," McCrady said in an interview.

    "He made a direct connection of that inscription to the first Christmas and the song of the angels. Even though Canadians are not part of the actual Christmas truce, the carillon, the Peace Tower, they all share the same aspiration towards peace.

    "The spirit is there."

    The carillon itself originated in Flanders around 600 years ago. The massive instrument features pedals, rows of wooden levers called batons, and pulleys that attach to the bells above. The carillonneur plays by pressing on the pedals with her feet and simultaneously hitting the batons with the side of her loosely closed fist.

    McCrady, a retired doctor from the United States, won a competition for the job in 2008. She replaced Gordon Slater, who had occupied the post for 31 years.

    McCrady is creative with her recital playlists. This winter, passersby could hear Coldplay's "Clocks" playing if they came up to Parliament Hill midday. During the annual Parliament Hill Christmas lighting ceremony this year, she prepared a number of songs that would have been heard by Canadians during the First World War.

    She also played Paul McCartney's song "Pipes of Peace", which was written as a tribute to the 1914 truce.

    One of McCrady's favourite times for playing is in the lead-up to the holidays.

    "It's a joy to play every day, but it connects a lot with people on the ground (during this period)," she said.

    "It's lots of fun to play the prelude to the Christmas lighting ceremony. People are up there with their hot chocolate and their beaver tails and they're hearing the bells play the Christmas carols. That's one of the neatest times of the year."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    High household debt still a key risk to Canadian economy: Bank of Canada

    High household debt still a key risk to Canadian economy: Bank of Canada
    OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada is once again pointing a finger at mounting household debt as one of the biggest weak spots in the country's economic armour.

    High household debt still a key risk to Canadian economy: Bank of Canada

    Slumping oil prices to impact home prices in Calgary in 2015: Re/Max report

    Slumping oil prices to impact home prices in Calgary in 2015: Re/Max report
    TORONTO — Slumping oil prices are likely to impact Calgary's real estate market in the coming year, causing home prices to slow their rapid acceleration in Alberta's largest city, according to a report by realtor group Re/Max.

    Slumping oil prices to impact home prices in Calgary in 2015: Re/Max report

    Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision

    Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision
    OTTAWA — A decision that could have a major impact on the digital privacy rights of Canadians comes down this week at the Supreme Court of Canada.

    Today on the Hill: Supreme Court briefs media on coming privacy decision

    Lawyers who challenged Nadon appointment to high court get only $5K in costs

    Lawyers who challenged Nadon appointment to high court get only $5K in costs
    OTTAWA — The lawyers who set out to challenge Marc Nadon's nomination to the Supreme Court of Canada have been rebuffed in a bid to recoup their costs.

    Lawyers who challenged Nadon appointment to high court get only $5K in costs

    One in seven people lived in low-income families in 2012: Statcan

    One in seven people lived in low-income families in 2012: Statcan
    OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says 13.8 per cent of the population lived in low-income households in 2012.

    One in seven people lived in low-income families in 2012: Statcan

    From dark concrete to glass: National Arts Centre to get major facelift

    From dark concrete to glass: National Arts Centre to get major facelift
    OTTAWA — Nearly 50 years after the National Arts Centre was opened to celebrate Canada's centennial, it will undergo a major facelift to mark the country's 150th birthday.

    From dark concrete to glass: National Arts Centre to get major facelift