The Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Acadia University Wind Ensemble present “When the Times Darken” on Saturday, April 1 in Lunenburg and Sunday, April 2 in Wolfville.

Bertolt Brecht, a noted German poet and playwright, wrote in 1939,  

“When the times darken
will there be singing even then?
There will be singing even then.
Of when the times darken.”

Inspired by this famous quotation, which still resonates deeply with us today in 2023, this concert program presents a diverse selection of music, inviting audiences to reflect on the gravity but also the hope that still exists within dark times.

The program will feature individual performances by the Stadacona Band under the direction of Lt(N) Brad Ritson and the Acadia University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Mark Hopkins.  Program highlights will include “Gaelforce” by Peter Graham and Alfred Reed’s “Armenian Dances” for wind band.

For the Lunenburg concert on April 1 the Acadia University Singers (directed by Dr. Michelle Boyd) will also join the program, offering a selection of music by Canadian composers.   (The Acadia University Singers will perform their full program in Wolfville on Tuesday, April 4 – see https://music.acadiau.ca for details.)

Both the Lunenburg and Wolfville concerts will culminate with a combined performance by the Stadacona Band and the Acadia Wind Ensemble of Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968, an epic meditation on war and freedom.

Saturday, April 1 – 7:00pm at St. John’s Anglican Church, 64 Townsend St., Lunenburg.  

Sunday, April 2 – 3:00pm at the Festival Theatre, 504 Main St., Wolfville.

Admission to both concerts is by freewill donation at the door.