245 Continued: “David" Oketowa SENIOR ESSAY, FIRST PLACE Hearing “The Last Post” and “The Rouse” for the 昀rst time, I learned about the true power and emotion that music could convey. In Grade 5 I had just started doing band class and learning about music. We played a lot of different musical pieces and arrangements, but I never really saw them for anything more than that. I thought that their meaning started and ended on the music sheet. I also didn't appreciate music that had a slower and more toned-down mood, as I thought that it wasn't exciting or interesting. That Remembrance Day assembly changed that for me. When I listened to “The Last Post” and “The Rouse,” the sounds of those pieces stayed with me and I gained new thoughts and perspectives about the purpose of music. I saw that music extended past just the sheet of paper it was displayed on. It could communicate emotions that words could barely even begin to express. I also realized that the power of music is an enduring force. Both “The Last Post” and “The Rouse” were written between the late 1700s and early 1800s yet the weight and meaning of both songs remains constant through time. Finally, I came to the conclusion that those songs we played that had a more reserved or hushed tone were just as important as those upbeat pieces we played. Musical pieces like “The Last Post” and “The Rouse” give us deeper insight into themes of more complex emotions. Along with my newfound appreciation for musical symbolism, that Remembrance Day assembly taught me more about the signi昀cance of Remembrance Day. When I moved to Canada, there were multiple things that were foreign to me but one major thing I had to adjust to was holidays and celebrations. I quickly got used to the high-pro昀le holidays like Halloween and I made a lot of great memories. I knew what Remembrance Day was about since elementary school but I hadn't truly appreciated what it meant until that assembly. Hearing those two songs helped me grasp the sacri昀ce that men and women made in war so I could have what I have now. This assembly is what inspires me to remember those who are gone.
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