We Will Remain

Subtitled: "Patriotic Songs of Newfoundland"

A Project to Produce an Album Containing Important Songs, Recitations, and Historical Works Promoting the Nation of Newfoundland

NOW RELEASED!

Project Description

The purpose of the project is to compile a collection of songs, prose, and historical orations which promote the unique people, culture, history, beauty, and strengths of Newfoundland and Labrador. Futhermore, this collection will encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to recognize our distinct (national) identity and stand together to overcome the problems and forces we are facing. This collection will be published as a CD to be released in Newfoundland and Canada. The collection will also be released on cassette.

Thematic Content

To accomplish the project description above it will be necessary to interweave several themes and sub-themes:

Works which describe the good qualities of our culture, people, and history as well as the natural beauty of this place.
Works which bring out our history as a nation both within and outside Canada.
Works which identify some of the problems we must overcome or the forces we must fight.
Works which bring out emotional responses such as anger, pride, or stubborn resolve.
Works which promote unity in the face of the challenges ahead for our people.

Any one work may contribute to more than one of these themes in some fashion. The order of various works on the album will contribute to the overall theme.

Artistic Content

The collection will contain the following:

unaccompanied songs and recitations
songs accompanied with traditional instruments
poetry or prose, with or without simple accompaniment
recorded excerpts from historical speeches
readings/re-enactments from historical documents and records.

The songs selected include many contemporary songs. In addition, there is some new material that has never been recorded. The selections include a number of historical works with artistic merit.

Without getting into a debate about the merits of or definitions of musical styles, it is intended that all selections be produced in a ‘traditional’ Newfoundland and Labrador style. That is, country and western, pop rock, and similar styles will be avoided.

All material has a Newfoundland and Labrador origin or context.

History of the Project

For a couple of years I was kicking around the idea of producing such an album. With the partnership of my brother Paul, we initiated work on this project in January of 1997. We didn't make a great deal of progress until July of 1997 when we hired Jason Whelan of Sound Solutions Inc. as our producer. His job was to gather together the material and artists, prepare the arrangements, and engineer the recording, mixing, and mastering. Since then the project has moved along and the album has now been sent away for reproduction. The album will be released officially on March 31st, 1998. For those who don't know, that is the 49th anniversary of Newfoundland's confederation with Canada in 1949.

Actual Contents

Total playing time: 62:28.

Name of Work	Time	Vocalist	Comments
The Ode to Newfoundland	2:20	Jane Moran, Michelle Smith	To the music by Charles Hutton
Quote from William Carson	0:12	Steve Delaney	One of the founders of our nation
And We Were Sailors	1:51	Fergus O'Byrne	By Dave Benson, Accompanied Recitation, Melody and arrangement by Fergus
The Anti-Confederate Song of 1869	2:58	Art O'Brien	Written during the 1869 debate, Arranged by Jason
The "Antis" of Plate Cove	3:33	Fergus O'Byrne	Arrangement by Fergus, By Mark Walker who also wrote Tickle Cove Pond
The Flag of Newfoundland	3:16	Glen Hiscock	The Pink, White, & Green - by Archbishop Howley, New arrangement by Jason
Tribute to Bond	2:29	Jason Whelan	Recitation converted to song with original melody and arrangement by Jason
Song of Freedom	3:36	Fergus O'Byrne	Accompanied Recitation, Melody and arrangement by Fergus
Quote from National Convention	0:19	Pierce Fudge	An except from a recorded session: "I am not a confederate ..."
Don't Vote Confederation	5:29	Jean Hewson	Tune of "A Mother's Love is a Blessing", Arranged by Jason
Quote from National Convention	0:32	Peter Cashin	An except from a recorded session: "There is a conspiracy ..."
'49	2:52	Jason Whelan	Sung by Author, New traditional arrangement by Jason
Whispering Wave	4:32	Jim Payne	Sung by Author
Come All Ye	4:03	Tommy Nemec	To the same tune as "Flight of Earls", Arranged by Jason
Republican Song	2:01	Chris Andrews	By Bob Hallett/Sean McCann, Previously recorded by Rankin Street, Arranged by Jason
Here on this Island	3:27	Glen Breen	A new song penned just for this album
An Ode to Newfoundland	5:04	Jim Joyce	By John Phippard, Arranged by Jason
Newfoundland Forever	3:46	Dawn Trainor	Sung by Author, Some new words and arrangement
The Final Breath	3:18	Corey Tetford	By Ron Hynes, Also known as "Secret Nation", New traditional arrangement by Jason
We Will Remain	6:13	Shane Mahoney	Accompanied Recitation, by Shane Mahoney, Melody and arrangement by Fergus

Much of the guitar work has been performed by Paul Hiscock. Glen Hiscock has contributed with fiddle. Jason has added in bass, bazouki, mandalin, and a bunch of other instruments. Fergus has helped out with bodhran, concertina, and banjo as well as writing and arranging several melodies. Jim Payne and Glen Breen played guitar on their pieces. John Bishop will do some whistle and low whistle. Others who have added some instrumental work include Sean McCann and Bob Hallett.

The album will be produced under Jim Payne's Sing Song label and will be distributed throughout Canada, Newfoundland, via the Downhomer, and through Sing Song's US and European networks.