took place on June 23, 2019 at 2 p.m.

October 1868 marked 150 years since the death of Laura Secord.

Orchestra Breva  honoured her memory in a concert celebration highlighting her heroic acts and life’s journey. Her remarkable contributions to our country’s history were illustrated through music, paying tribute to all war heroes. ‘EROICA’ featured classical musicians, Indigenous artists, local historians, new works, and Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony.

All who have served humanity through in times of war and peace, through acts of bravery and sacrifice, were honoured. The event featured classical musicians, Indigenous artists, local historians, new compositions, and Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony.

Orchestra Breva toured the concert through communities significant to Laura Ingersoll Secord’s life and deeds: Windsor, Tecumseh, Ingersoll, Brantford, and on the Battlefield of Queenston Heights, Niagara-on-the-Lake.

This project raised awareness of our regional and national history by highlighting the profiles of important historical figures including Laura Secord, General Brock, Warrior Chief Tecumseh, and Chief Joseph Brant, and by honouring the veterans of battles that shaped our freedoms, thus emboldening citizens of today to act peacefully and live in harmony.

Partners included Friends of Laura Secord, Tecumseh Historical Society, the University of Windsor, the Ingersoll Cheese Museum, Ste Anne’s Parish, and the Niagara Parks Commission.

EROICA

A Sesquicentennial Concert Celebration of
Laura Ingersoll Secord, Canadian War Hero

Programme

1. Introduction
2. Iphigénie en Aulide Overture – Gluck (1774)
   Re: King’s wartime sacrifice of his daughter for the sake of his nation.
   French origins of the opera, written around the time of Laura’s birth, are an acknowledgement of the Secord family’s French heritage
3. American Revolutionary War anthem – Chester Billings (1778)
4. Account of Laura’s youth, immigration, and marriage to Loyalist James Secord
5. Burlington Bay – new composition (2019)
6. Description of significant events of the War of 1812 including General Brock’s death, Laura’s famous act of courage, the importance of Indigenous peoples during this conflict, and the unfulfilled promise of a United Native Confederation
7. Indigenous Musical Performance on the theme of peace
8. Laura’s later life and struggles as a veteran unrecognized for her heroic act
9. My Grief is so Great – musical setting of Laura Secord’s letter of July 2, 1841 (2019)
10. Warrior Chief Tecumseh speech
11. Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”, Beethoven (1803)
    In honour of all war heroes