The Beginning

The peace education project began with renowned Canadian composer, R. Murray Schafer’s, remarkable work titled  “Threnody”. Shafer declared “Threnody is a warning. Threnody is a lamentation. It is a remembrance for the world community that needs to be performed.”

Composed by R. Murray Schafer in 1970, “Threnody” describes the moments before, during and after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. In an interview Murray Schafer provided much insight into this musical work.  “The texts spoken by the five young narrators are eye-witness accounts by children of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The orchestra and chorus illustrate the terrifying scene.”

Schafer wrote “Threnody” in response to the “Cold War” which was in high gear in the 1960’s. It was meant as a warning to the world’s young people, their families and their governments during a time when the world’s stockpile of atomic weapons grew rapidly. In 2022, some 50+ years after his composition, and a year after Mr. Schafer’s passing at the age of 88, the world’s citizens are, once again, in heightened uncertainty as an escalation in the threat of nuclear war endangers all peoples of the earth. The important message of “Threnody” needs to be heard now.

R. Murray Schafer was a musical genius and a visionary, a Canadian composer and musician. His talent to weave his love of art and his appreciation of nature through his music by the use of unique soundscapes created an unparalleled body of musical works. It was through his musician father, Lester Goulding, that Carl had the opportunity to know Lester’s longtime friend, R. Murray Schafer, and the composer certainly made a lasting impression. Over his many years as a musical director and career as a music teacher, Carl maintained his contact with Schafer. Carl’s choirs perform many of Schafer’s choral works and continue to benefit musically from the challenge.

The steps towards the peace education project began in 1998, with Carl’s work on Shafer’s “Threnody” music with his choir. At Schafer’s request, Carl began to work through letters and emails, with a young Japanese music teacher, Ms. Umezaki, who needed help in first understanding and then teaching this composition. Their lengthy correspondence and growing friendship resulted in a visit to the province by the Japanese music teacher and Mr. Schafer to further work on the project with Carl and his choir.

The first performance tour to Japan in 2005, involving Mr. Schafer, was received with much enthusiasm and achieved with much support and hard work. This initial Threnody Peace Education Project in 2005 was established “Under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson C.C. C.M.M., C.D. Governor General of Canada”. Mr. Chuck Furey, was the Fundraising Chairperson, and the Honourable Julie Bettney, former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation of Newfoundland and Labrador, accompanied project to Japan.

This international effort involved diverse committees:

-Father McGarrell of Elisabeth University headed the committee in Hiroshima, Japan

-Chief Misel Joe and teachers Brenda Jeddore and Rod Jeddore were involved in the committee planning work for the involvement of the Miawpukek First Nation at Conne River, NL

-The executive team overseeing the project in St. John’s, NL was headed by Chuck Furey, and was joined by Dr. Peter Gardner of the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra and Carl Goulding, Founder of The Threnody Peace Education Project, along with committee support provided by the teachers, directors and parents of the performers in both the choir and orchestra.

-Carl Goulding was the music director and the liaison, working and coordinating the project with R. Murray Schafer.

R. Murray Schafer’s travel to Japan with the initial Threnody Peace Education Project was a unique opportunity for the one hundred sixty tour participants and a most cherished and long-awaited musical encounter for the Japanese music teachers in Hiroshima, who participated in great numbers during Schafer’s choral workshops with the Threnody choir, attended his musical lectures and the “Threnody” concert at Elisabeth University’s Concert Hall in Hiroshima.

The original “Threnody Peace Education Project” had a significant impact upon the performers and its audience. The civilian populations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced the devastation of atomic warfare. The Canadian youth experienced history made real amongst a people whose tragic remembrances are a most important warning for the world. Celebrating peace in the aftermath of conflict demonstrates for young people the possibilities that exist for world harmony. The success of the initial project determined its longevity.

Now, twenty-four years later, The Threnody Peace Education Project is now an ongoing peace education project, with a remarkably successful history. There have been eight international performance tours of the Threnody Peace Education Project, and a great number of young musicians from Newfoundland and Labrador have participated. The peace education tours have included performers from the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Se’t A’newey Children’s Choir of the Miawpukek First Nation of Conne River, The Mount Pearl Show Choir, The Etcetera Productions Show Choir and the Etcetera Productions Ensemble.

The focus of the Threnody Peace Education Project tours has expanded though the years, and included a wide scope of international venues, with the mandate of the peace education. Through music, with the goal of educating the performers and the audience, the international tours are a musical sharing of the value of peace.

The initial international performance tour was made possible through financial contributions from the federal and provincial levels of government, corporate sponsorships, and in the years since 2005, fundraised by industrious and dedicated committee of friends and families for an educational endeavour.

Threnody Peace Education Lectures

R. Murray Schafer, composer

Elisabeth University of Music, Hiroshima, Japan