Description

WORLD PEACE SUITE
Composer Nicholas Gentile
Commissioned by Cowra Civic Centre
Poetry Lyrics by Lusi Austin

Movement 1: Once Foes, Now Friends
Movement 2: The Cherry Blossom
Movement 3: Path of Peace

The music is structured in three movements and runs for 16 minutes. The first movement is about the human story, the human struggle between having someone as an enemy but then the human side… the cognitive dissonance. The second movement, which was largely inspired by Cowra’s Japanese Garden, is divided into four musical ideas: rebirth, growth, the cherry blossom, and finally the fleeting nature of life.

The third and final movement of the suite, described by Nicholas as “epic”, is composed for full orchestra, choir and soloists with poetry lyrics by local singer songwriter, Lusi Austin. Sung in English, Korean, Thai, Italian and Japanese, the theme is world peace. The message of the work is “live the path of peace”, which is fitting given Cowra’s history and connection to peace and reconciliation.