Philharmonic Choir of the NSO presents The Seafarer's Requiem

Location: St. Andrew's Church (the Kirk)

 

The Philharmonic Choir of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra presents The Seafarer's Requiem. Join us on May 10, 2026, for an afternoon concert at St. Andrew's Church (the Kirk). Doors open at 3pm for a 3:30pm start time. Purchasing tickets in advance through the Holy Heart Box Office is highly recommended.

Artistic director: Stephen Candow
Female storyteller: Anita Best
Male storyteller: Jim Payne
Soprano soloist: Adriana Power and Rebekah Lee
Mezzo-soprano soloist: Alanna Fraize
Tenor soloist: Kingsley Alozie
Bass soloist: Nick Leblanc
Accompanied by: several members of the "The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra"
Host: Paula Gale of CBC Radio's The Broadcast

The Seafarer’s Requiem is a powerful dedication to all lost mariners and their families. It is the first requiem of its kind that uses music and narratives to express and connect dramatic and poignant stories of our shared Maritime heritage.

The Seafarer’s Requiem is a compelling presentation which combines the Latin Mass with rich choral arrangements of Celtic and classical influence. Traditional and haunting poems such as Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s, "Crossing the Bar" is written as a sea song for the men’s chorus. The Agnus Dei is written as a round for the women’s chorus where you can hear the chiming of bells. Bells are a theme throughout The Seafarer’s Requiem, either lofty church bells, haunting buoy bells or lingering ship’s bells.

The solos are sometimes Celtic in feel, sometimes art song. The introit is a combination of the poem "My Boy Jack" by Rudyard Kipling, the Latin mass, as well as a mixture of classical and folk choral and solo work. "Adieu" by Theodore Goodrich Roberts is written as a haunting farewell. Gluing both solos and choral pieces together are moving and profound stories about seafarers that have survived, those who were lost, and those left behind. These stories are taken from local museum archives as well as documentaries.

The Seafarer’s Requiem is dramatic, thoughtful and, in the end, hopeful. It is a magnificent tribute to both our history and legacy in this Maritime landscape. It is a universal anthem for anyone who lives with the immense beauty, power and tragedy of the sea.

Composer, Mary Knickle, comes from a family of Lunenburg founders, fisherman and seafarers. Her family tradition was music and storytelling. She studied music at Acadia University and is an accomplished performer and composer. Mary lives with her family in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

The Seafarer’s Requiem was performed on February 8, 2014, with chorus and soloists in Lunenburg and in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Join us and experience the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra performing the orchestral debut of The Seafarer’s Requiem in St. John's.

“A beautiful piece that deserves to be heard” - Peter Togni, 2014.

The Seafarer’s Requiem honours those lost at sea as well as those left behind.