Yesterday J and I went to the Charles River Esplanade for the “Massachusetts Remembers 9/11” concert and ceremony at the Hatch Shell.
Sunday was a mild and sunny day–a day reminiscent of that turquoise-skied Tuesday ten years ago–so the Charles River was dotted with sailboats and kayaks while the Esplanade was thronged with cyclists, sun-bathers, and families with strollers. It was a day so lovely, you could almost pretend it was any ordinary Sunday until you came to a colorful patchwork tapestry spread on the grass like an enormous picnic blanket.
Half the size of a football field, this American flag consists of 50,000 red, white, and blue squares that contain messages written by Massachusetts school children in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks: a two-dimensional time-capsule to remind us of darker days.
J and I arrived at the Hatch Shell early, so we were able to enjoy a pre-concert performance by the Berklee College of Music’s Rhythm of the Universe, a collaborative project consisting of musicians from 90 countries from around the world.
It seemed somehow apt that the first melodic line J and I heard as we approached the Hatch Shell was that of a headscarf-wearing woman keening to a Middle Eastern melody. It was a sound that was both moving and mournful, as clear and ethereal as a muezzin’s call to prayer.
The two-hour concert and ceremony featured prayers led by the Massachusetts Interfaith Leadership Coalition and musical performances by the Boston Pops Brass Ensemble and the Boston Children’s Chorus.
My thoughts, however, kept going back to the eclectic sounds of the Rhythm of the Universe, who illustrated quite vividly how the cultures of the world can come together to create harmony if they are united by a common melody.
Click here for a photo-set of images from the “Massachusetts Remembers 9/11” concert and ceremony.
Sep 13, 2011 at 9:16 am
Hi Lorianne;
Thanks for your lovely words about ROTU. That was amazing for me to be there and watch my son and his talented friends on the stage. Emir Cerman, my son is the mastermind of this project and composer of the music.
Thanks again your wonderful thoughts about that talented young people and your amazing pictures.
Muge
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Sep 17, 2011 at 7:17 pm
It’s wonderful to “meet” you, Muge! Please tell Emir how much my husband and I enjoyed the performance. I love how his composition juxtaposed the various musical styles, like a smorgasbord of complementary flavors. You have every reason to be proud!
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Sep 13, 2011 at 10:16 am
Looks like it was a beautiful day.
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Sep 17, 2011 at 7:18 pm
It was gorgeous. A perfect day to lounge on the Esplanade.
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Sep 14, 2011 at 12:23 am
Sorry I haven’t been around for so long. This was a wonderful post, Lorianne. Even though it was a very painful time for all of us, I’m glad so many people found comfort in the commemorations around the company. I couldn’t even bring myself to make an art journal page. Hope you are well. The colors are beginning to change, I bet.
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Sep 17, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Hi, Fran–it’s great to “hear” from you again. It’s difficult to keep up with everyone…and yes, the commemorations are bittersweet. Just today, J and I went to a Boston College football game, and there was a tribute to a BC grad who died in the WTC after leading several workers out of the building. Hearing the story and seeing the family brought all the memories back. It’s a day none of us will ever forget.
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