Ten years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to the moment, Brahms and Mozart symphonies will ring out from the National Arts Centre terrace and fill the streets of Ottawa in remembrance of those who were lost that day.
The 9/11 Concert of Hope and Remembrance will begin at 8:46 a.m. Sept. 11, to coincide with the time the first plane hit the World Trade Centre a decade ago.
Everyone has their own personal stories and the musicians from the National Arts Centre orchestra said they hope to relive and remember those experiences through their music, while helping others do the same.
When violinist David Goldblatt saw the towers hit on the news, he said his first thoughts went straight to the 79th floor.
A friend’s family business occupied most of the floor, and they would go exploring in the towers back when the pair attended New York City’s Juilliard School of Music together.
“I did get to go up on the roof one time,” he said. “They were magnificent buildings.”
After days of trying to reach them, he found out his friend and sister had decided not to go to work that morning.
In July, Goldblatt went back to see the remnants of the attacks in New York, he said.
“It’s amazing to see how huge those buildings were and what the scar is for the city there,” Goldblatt said.
Now, a decade later, he said he’ll play in Canada’s tribute to the attacks, and help his somber audience connect with those emotions from that day.
“It gives me a chance to pay some respect to those who died and to provide some thought for those people who come to the concert,” Goldblatt said.
“There’s nothing that can impart certain emotions, feelings or thoughts like music,” he said,“It’s only music that provides that service to your brain and your soul. It’s just something everybody needs, and it’s my job to provide it.”
Second oboe Francine Schutzman echoed his hopes for the morning.
“We tell our story through music,” she said. “By playing our music, that’s how we can remind people of the sacrifices that were made that day.
“The role of the arts community is to communicate our feelings to help other people realize their feelings.”
Principal oboe Charles Hamann said he knows music will be an integral part of memorials all across North America Sept. 11, and he’s glad to represent Canada on the anniversary.
As an American living in Canada, Hamann said he remembered “a feeling of kinship” that came from 9/11.
“It didn’t really matter much where we were born, everybody felt the same emotions,” he said.
“I know that right after the terrorist attacks, music was a way to grieve the loss and process some of those complex feelings people were having,” Hamann said.
“I hope that the music will bring people a sense of introspection and reflection about what that day meant, and where we are 10 years later.”
