The Great War in the “silence” by Paolo Fresu
In the year in which the commemorations for the First World Wan begin all over the world, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers invited all belligerent Countries to share a monument in honour of those who died during the war.
A piece is played in barracks that marks the end of each day, the moment of rest. In Italy it is entitled "Il Silenzio" (The Silence) – and it is the same as in many other countries – and in times of war the trumpet says goodbye to the dead, as a sort of moaning, a homage, a final farewell that soldiers devote to their dead fellows.
Playing this song on 27th July 2014, the day before the exact hundredth anniversary of the greatest tragedy of the Nineteenth century, means expressing both a sort of warning, and our homage and farewell, voicing memories and reflection. It is a duty of reverence, memory, love, in the only language universally shared, that everyone knows.
For those who cannot be present in the relevant sites - that are often inaccessible – and in order to involve the highest possible number of people in this collective action, radio and television networks are called to broadcast what is conceived as a real “chorus” of trumpets, one after the other, as in a sort of quiet collective relay race.
The performance, falling within the Festival “I suoni delle Dolomiti”, will be preceded by a concert; the music will be entirely or partially taken from the original repertoire available in the WW1 archives.
"Il Silenzio" on the Folgaria Tableau in the Trentino Region will be played by one of the greatest Italian trumpet players, Paolo Fresu, sided by a journalist particularly committed on the subject of the Great War and renowned at an international level, Paolo Rumiz.
We wish that in every Country the Authorities in charge of Commemorations favourably greet the Italian proposal to turn 27th July 2014 into a day of peace, memory and shared emotion.