91原创

Skip to content

First Capital Chorus offers classic celebration of remembrance in South Surrey

91原创-based harmony ensemble blends old songs and modern standards
9101165_web1_171027-PAN-M-first-capital-chorus
File photo First Capital Chorus brings its dynamic harmony style to St. Mark鈥檚 Anglican Church on Nov. 4 for Wartime Memories.

All the while there were many survivors of the First World War and Second World War generations around, celebrations marking Remembrance Day were tinged with the nostalgia of personal memory.

But as the ranks of those who remember the Second World War 鈥 even the Korean War 鈥 dwindle to a handful, the nature of remembrance inevitably alters.

Fortunately there are many of all ages in communities across Canada who still see value in taking time to remember the service of veterans of the war generations, and the sacrifice of those who never returned.

That community spirit is typified in Wartime Memories, latest of the annual remembrance and variety shows put on by the 91原创-based First Capital Chorus (Saturday, Nov. 4, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. St. Mark鈥檚 Anglican Church).

Although it鈥檚 the 91原创 chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, it has always had a strong proportion of South Surrey residents as members, including Denny O鈥橠onovan 鈥 whose touching solo on Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) is always a highlight of group performances.

鈥淚t鈥檚 our 21st annual show and Canada鈥檚 150th year as a nation,鈥 he said, adding that one of this year鈥檚 highlights will be a number the group calls the 鈥楥anada medley.鈥

鈥淪ide by side, step by step, our fathers were marching along,鈥 he said, quoting the lyric.

He noted that while musical trends change as time marches on, even much younger generations are prepared to listen to songs of their parents鈥, grandparents鈥 鈥 even great-grandparents鈥 鈥 time, at least once a year.

鈥淧eople still want to hear the same old standards of the wartime years 鈥 songs like There鈥檚 A Long, Long Trail, Pack Up Your Troubles, We鈥檒l Meet Again, White Cliffs of Dover, McNamara鈥檚 Band, Lili Marlene,鈥 he said.

And O鈥橠onovan鈥檚 son 鈥 busy Vancouver-based pianist/vocalist/theatre musical director Kerry O鈥橠onovan 鈥 will also feature one of the classics of the genre in his 20 minute set as this year鈥檚 special guest.

鈥淗e does a lovely, very moving version of A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square,鈥 O鈥 Donovan noted.

The younger O鈥橠onovan鈥檚 set will likely also feature some of his favourite show tunes, and maybe some of his own originals, he said 鈥 in keeping with a playlist for the variety segment that traverses the years right up to the present day.

Many current Canadian veterans, O鈥橠onovan pointed out, are a long way short of the senior years 鈥 reflecting the many conflicts around the globe in which Canadians have served in recent decades.

鈥淎nd we try to acknowledge the veterans who are in the audience 鈥 we ask them to stand and be recognized,鈥 he added.

Also featured in this year鈥檚 show will be some of the chorus鈥 sub groups 鈥 including the mixed male and female voices of Memory Lane, the trio Mainstream (Boris Krasov, Greg Smith and Roger Laviolette) and the classic a capella 鈥榖arbershop鈥 quartet Syncromesh (Leigh Anderson, Gord Harris, Mike Wilcox and Bill Finlay).

Other highlights, O鈥橠onovan said, will be a duet on Amazing Grace by Dave and Dorothea Dahl and the First Capital ensemble鈥檚 version of Bring Him Home, from Les Miserables.

鈥淲e sing it very well, if I say so myself,鈥 he said.

The church is located at 12953 20 Ave.

Tickets ($20, $15 seniors and students) area available from Pelican Rouge Cafe, Ocean Park Pizza and Village Pub, or directly from O鈥橠onovan at 604-536-7983.



About the Author: Alex Browne

Read more



(or

91原创

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }