Western Front - Christmas Day 1914
In a surge of PATRIOTISM & PROPAGANDA men & boys sign up as cannon fodder for front lines in WW1
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SONG
Christmas Truce (a Song for Peace) was inspired by the men and boys who were persuaded by a massive propaganda campaign, to serve their King & Country. Julie Chimes created a character based on stories, diaries, letters and illustrations from the time. They were a record of the unfulfilled dreams of those brave boys who never came home. She took the idea of a giving voice to soldier’s final wish to vocalist/musician Russell Nash. After researching the Christmas Truce & music of the era, they together created this Song for Peace.
Wolf & Rich - our Soldiers
SINGING STARTED & THE FIGHTING STOPPED
The song gives a hope-filled perspective of the extraordinary happening, which took place in the Flanders Fields along the western front in 1914. As weary soldiers from both sides of the trenches began to sing and more and more voices united, they spontaneously laid down their weapons and dared to venture beyond the confines of battlefield rules.
Soldiers begin to sing SILENT NIGHT
Candles were lit along some of the trenches and a few Christmas tree branches were waved in place of white flags. Laying down their weapons, soldiers entered no man’s land and celebrated Christmas with a spontaneous and unofficial truce. Exhausted men exchanged gifts, greetings, tokens and laughter. They gave each other haircuts and helped to bury the dead of both sides. Music and voices rang out in the frosted air. There was even a football game played using ration tins. It is said that the ensuing camaraderie lasted for weeks in some places on the western front.
Backing vocalists in The NASHRAM studio
LET'S DANCE!
As Archie sings his final prayer he is joined by the voices of his girlfriend, mother and sisters and soldiers from both sides of the war, including those who have already departed this earth. Having witnessed the extraordinary events of the Christmas Day Truce, Archie questions, ‘If we can be at peace for one Christmas Day, then why can’t it always be this way?’ With his last breath he dreams of a world where we ’Put aside our differences and dance’.
CHRISTMAS TRUCE - A SONG FOR PEACE
Nash at working the The NASHRAM STUDIO
Published by MUSIC FOR WORLD PEACE RECORDS FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
Chimes & Nash Music Ltd © All Rights Reserved March 2014
CREDITS
Recorded in The NASHRAM STUDIO southern Spain
Words and music by Julie Chimes & Russell Nash
Arranged and Produced by RUSSELL NASH/NASH MUSIC
Lead Vocals Archie: Russell Nash
Additional Vocals & Instrumentals: Julie Chimes & Sheila Martin
Soldier’s voices: Richard Laws, Wolfgang Bruns
