MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO OMAGH BOMB VICTIM TOUCHES HEART OF FAMOUS COMPOSER
Musical tribute to Omagh bomb victim 'touches heart' of famous composer
BY JOHNMcCUSKER
j. mccusker@ulsterherald. com
ONE of the world's leading com-posers has said he was 'profoundly touched' that one of his compositions was chosen to be played at the funeral service for an Omagh bomb victim.
In a letter last week to Doreen McFarland - whose daughter Samantha was among those who lost their lives in the 1998 attack - Estonian-born composer Arvo Part said he was 'touched in his heart' to learn that his music had 'accompanied her during her last days.'
Mrs McFarland was speaking after receiving a personal letter last Friday morning accompanied by a CD of Arvo Part's new piece written in honour of Pope Benedict XVI.
Samantha McFarland, 17, was a student at Strabane Grammar School and worked as a volunteer in the Omagh Oxfam charity shop with her friend Lorraine Wilson. Both were among the victims of the bomb attack of 13 years ago.
Shortly before the outrage, Samantha had spoken to her mother about her love of Arvo Part's classic piece Spiegel im Spiegel.
"One week before, Samantha called me to come listen to this piece of music," Doreen McFarland said this week.
"We both sat on the settee and she told me how to listen to the piano and violin, which were both instruments Samantha played.
"A week later, her brother Richard chose that piece of music to be played as she was taken out of the church."
Earlier this year, BBC Radio 4 was in the process of compiling a programme about music which produced a powerful emotional impact. The series -entitled Soul Music - looked at the impact that composer Arvo Part's piece for piano and violin Spiegel im Spiegel has had on people's lives.
"I was contacted by Rev Derek Quinn who told me that BBC Birmingham wanted me to take part in the programme," explained Mrs McFarland.
"We recorded the interview by telephone and I spoke about the music and my piece was first to go on air in the programme.
"At the end, the producer told me that the composer was still alive and she would send me information on him and his office in Vienna."
Following the interview, Mrs McFarland wrote to Avro Part thanking him for writing the music which provided such an important part of her daughter's funeral service. The 76-year-old composer is regarded as one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music today.
"I was amazed to get a reply last week in which he said that my letter had touched him profoundly," Mrs McFarland said. "In it he said there was no consolation in what happened to Samantha. But he was touched to the heart to learn that his music accompanied her during her last days.
"He said it was sad that only these circumstances brought us together and united us."
The composer also requested that Mrs McFarland send him a photograph of her daughter as a keepsake of his composition.
Mrs McFarland is currently putting the finishing touches to a book on her life and that of her daughter Samantha. The book reflects on her life, growing up and raising a family. The latter part of the publication will contain quotations relating to her late daughter.
"A week after Omagh, I was walking with my son and he said, 'How do you feel?' I said there is a hole that goes right through me and out the back. As time goes on that hole is filled with Samantha and today Samantha is within me.
"I am completely at peace right now, Mrs McFarland added, "whatever I do, I do for Samantha. I found the writing of the book very therapeutic and if it helps one person only, it will have been worth it."
BY JOHNMcCUSKER
j. mccusker@ulsterherald. com
ONE of the world's leading com-posers has said he was 'profoundly touched' that one of his compositions was chosen to be played at the funeral service for an Omagh bomb victim.
In a letter last week to Doreen McFarland - whose daughter Samantha was among those who lost their lives in the 1998 attack - Estonian-born composer Arvo Part said he was 'touched in his heart' to learn that his music had 'accompanied her during her last days.'
Mrs McFarland was speaking after receiving a personal letter last Friday morning accompanied by a CD of Arvo Part's new piece written in honour of Pope Benedict XVI.
Samantha McFarland, 17, was a student at Strabane Grammar School and worked as a volunteer in the Omagh Oxfam charity shop with her friend Lorraine Wilson. Both were among the victims of the bomb attack of 13 years ago.
Shortly before the outrage, Samantha had spoken to her mother about her love of Arvo Part's classic piece Spiegel im Spiegel.
"One week before, Samantha called me to come listen to this piece of music," Doreen McFarland said this week.
"We both sat on the settee and she told me how to listen to the piano and violin, which were both instruments Samantha played.
"A week later, her brother Richard chose that piece of music to be played as she was taken out of the church."
Earlier this year, BBC Radio 4 was in the process of compiling a programme about music which produced a powerful emotional impact. The series -entitled Soul Music - looked at the impact that composer Arvo Part's piece for piano and violin Spiegel im Spiegel has had on people's lives.
"I was contacted by Rev Derek Quinn who told me that BBC Birmingham wanted me to take part in the programme," explained Mrs McFarland.
"We recorded the interview by telephone and I spoke about the music and my piece was first to go on air in the programme.
"At the end, the producer told me that the composer was still alive and she would send me information on him and his office in Vienna."
Following the interview, Mrs McFarland wrote to Avro Part thanking him for writing the music which provided such an important part of her daughter's funeral service. The 76-year-old composer is regarded as one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music today.
"I was amazed to get a reply last week in which he said that my letter had touched him profoundly," Mrs McFarland said. "In it he said there was no consolation in what happened to Samantha. But he was touched to the heart to learn that his music accompanied her during her last days.
"He said it was sad that only these circumstances brought us together and united us."
The composer also requested that Mrs McFarland send him a photograph of her daughter as a keepsake of his composition.
Mrs McFarland is currently putting the finishing touches to a book on her life and that of her daughter Samantha. The book reflects on her life, growing up and raising a family. The latter part of the publication will contain quotations relating to her late daughter.
"A week after Omagh, I was walking with my son and he said, 'How do you feel?' I said there is a hole that goes right through me and out the back. As time goes on that hole is filled with Samantha and today Samantha is within me.
"I am completely at peace right now, Mrs McFarland added, "whatever I do, I do for Samantha. I found the writing of the book very therapeutic and if it helps one person only, it will have been worth it."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/2037
Published Date: 15-Sep-11
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