Vietnam Requiem – We Gotta Get out of This Place

The premiere of the Vietnam Requiem took place on 5 and 6 June 2021 at Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, Canberra. This concert was the next creation in the Australian War Memorial’s (AWM) project to create a free national commemorative repertoire, remembering the conflicts that Australia has been involved in. Created and directed by Chris Latham, Artist-in-Residence at the AWM, the Flowers of War team brought together Australia’s leading composers and performing artists to create this memorable theatrical concert.

The Requiem was deeply moving as it retold our stories from both abroad and at home, on the 50th anniversary of our withdrawal. It was designed to help heal the great wound created by this war in response to extensive veteran and community consultation, deep listening and research. It honoured veterans’ service and their families, and the price paid by all who were touched by this war, including South Vietnamese Veterans and Boat People. We believed it honoured their sacrifices.

This requiem was performed in Llewellyn Hall, Canberra and was at capacity with living veterans, former South-Vietnamese veterans, and their families.

It was a special event like no other and this concert will not be repeated. Act 1 took audiences on a music journey of 12 popular songs of the era, some of which were sung by singing legend Normie and entertainer at the time, Little Pattie. Normie has had a lifetime in the music industry after releasing his first record in 1965 and becoming ‘King of Pop’ in 1968. His career was cut short though after being conscripted into the Vietnam War. He holds a deep connection with his fellow veterans as a result.

The Act 1 song list was carefully curated by Chris Latham, the Director of the Flowers of Peace and Artist-in-Residence at the Australian War Memorial. He said ‘in honouring service and acknowledging pain, dislocation and the terrible cost of war, the ‘Vietnam Requiem’ was performed as a gift to our veterans that is long overdue and deserved’. ‘Telling the story of this war primarily through the Australian experience was complex.

This war was the most divisive in our history, and one where, to this day, there are many who have remained silent about their experiences’. ‘This concert responded to all those affected, including Australian, New Zealand and Vietnamese veterans; the medical staff who helped heal the wounded; the journalists, cameramen and photojournalists who reported back to the nation; the entertainers who toured to give some joy to the troops; the protesters and the boat people who fled to freedom and settled in our nation.’ ‘We were fair, accurate and even-handed in all our musical depictions, and wish for this work to do good’ he said.

Produced by the Flowers of Peace (formally the Flowers of War), this concert was intended to demonstrate the cost of war. Christopher Latham, Director states ‘to everyone who has known great suffering, this is the music that has been called forth from our souls. Music can be a great balm to soothe after loss, to help the heart to heal. It is my hope that this vast great continent allows us space enough for our hearts to expand, so we can forgive and release these painful wounds that we carry as a nation.’

The Flowers of Peace is a small arts company that relies on donations to continue to create, record and publish the music and content from its live performances. If you wish to support this project you can donate via flowersofpeace.com.au