Pax Deinde Venit (then came peace)

Story of “Pax Deinde Venit” (then peace came) composed by Dawn Els

It begins the moment the first peace documents were signed.

(I followed the path of history with this composition, believing that especially music itself kept a degree of peace. With this I also remember the values of the music as I imagine it must have been during WWII and therefore covered a few styles/genres with this composition.)

The story I saw in the fog

 In the dark, dead moments of the night the first ray of hope comes.

Is it true, what is this tapping, does it mean…..?

Confusion as some young soldiers wake up, they hear or do they imagine or are they still asleep and dreaming?

It is still vague...

Is this true?

Yes it is true

WE ARE AWAKE,

WE ARE ALIVE

the war is over!

But, can they be glad

when they are so sad?

Not every mate

lived to celebrate.

WE ARE AWAKE,

WE ARE ALIVE

PEACE CAME

They jubilate,

run and play

as little children,

they will be going home!

‘Interlude’

the soldiers run around,

packing, rejoicing,

stumble and tumble

jumping up and down

falling on the ground.

Back home families are woken by families,

some with hidden radios -

they hear the first surrenders being broadcast.

Mothers stop and start everything they do

quite a few times in a frenzy

before they realize,

then they become silent

in prayers of thanks.

Their sons will be coming home.

And the broadcasts go on

in the voices of all who wake.

And to the hills they all take

to shout their joy,

to pronounce peace arrived.

‘Interlude’

as some in the world are still sleeping

and others are weeping

under the grey blanket hoping

and not knowing...

they hear

and are not sure,

shells are still flying

and some are crying.

Under a pale moon.

Then music wakes and knows

and begins to play

as she played before

but with added notes of knowing.

A price had been paid.

Now we are free,

and we shall bury

and then we shall dance,

celebrating the lives of

them that will never grow old.

The lonely soldier whose young wife waits for his return,

knows no peace from the agony of his heart that burns,

remembering her.

He sees and hears none for the time

but the memory of her.

And a thousand miles away,

his young wife wails

her sorrows across the waters,

lonely without her man.

As she sings a promise and a prayer,

peace takes flight and reaches them both

and everyone, everywhere.

Then the world wakes up in a flurry of a great noise.

Peace had come.

http://youtu.be/pXisT1zKcE4

free download available at:
https://soundcloud.com/dawn-els/pax-deinde-venit-copyright piano and orchestra