Musicians unite with global performers to mark Remembrance Sunday

11 Nov 2021 12:09 PM

Musicians from the College were some of the first to sign up to perform alongside hundreds of performers internationally through the iPlay4Peace initiative on Remembrance Sunday.

Joining performers from around the world including America, Australia, Canada, Europe and Japan, pupils from the College will play in unison at 3pm GMT on Sunday 14 November and share their recording using #iPlay4Peace. This year’s performers will play an original score ‘Where the Poppies Grow Tall’, composed by Graeme Murray, a founding member of 80s rock band Pallas who was inspired to write the piece when touring with the band in Belgium.

Graeme said: “I woke up on the tour bus early one morning and opened my eyes to First World War graves as far as I could see. The whole band spent hours there that morning and it was a really shocking, humbling and inspiring experience. From that came ‘Where the Poppies Grow Tall’. I’m incredibly proud of how it has turned out and to think of fellow musicians across the world playing this piece on the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday is amazing.”

Mr Haggart, Head of Music shared: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to be involved in this fantastic project.

“Music is humankind's truly universal language and it has a huge capacity to promote and inspire peace and goodwill. In these difficult times it is more important than ever to remember the sacrifices of those who have gone before us and to support a message of peace and harmony around our beautiful fragile world. We are proud to play our part in promoting #iPlay4Peace.”

The event was initiated by Scottish historian Neil McLennan of the University of Aberdeen. Neil added: “#iPlay4Peace has grown in popularity each year and 2020 saw more than 250 locations taking part. While it is vital that we continue to mark Remembrance Sunday in the traditional way of sombre reflection at 11am, #iPlay4Peace hopes to engage new audiences around the world in a spirit of international peace and unity.”

Musicians involved will share their performances using #iPlay4Peace on social media and a selection of performances will be broadcast on the Facebook pages of Poppy Scotland and Legion Scotland.