“…When Carol and Cullan performed “Lament” by Canadian composer David Jaeger, in honour of the Ukrainian people, I found this to be a beautiful, stirring, composition, an expression of both empathy and an attempt to give voice to the sadness over the unspeakable action taken against them and their nation.
The combined effect of Carol and Cullan’s expressive playing provided us with a clear strong message in sympathy and we all felt this small, symbolic musical tribute.
Yes, in Carol’s hands, beautifully supported by Cullan’s finely nuanced piano, we all heard this piece as a tender outpouring of feeling and respect.
Before the concert, Carol had set up a Zoom call in the living room to invite David Jaeger to join us. I was so happy; here he was, saying hello to us from the Garibaldi Highlands, up the mountain slope from Squamish, B.C.
So David, on Zoom, was with us in audience while Carol and Cullan performed his new work, “Lament”. My friends and I, stunned by the beauty of this composition, stood up to applaud at its finish.
We learned David was appointed and honoured as a member of The Order of Canada in 2018 as a gifted composer and musician. He’s the legendary producer behind the CBC’s iconic “Two New Hours” Radio series.
Over the past 10 years, Carol Gimbel and David Jaeger have happily collaborated, he as composer and producer, she as performer and entrepreneur, both championing emerging Canadian composers. They have appeared together in performance at the Toronto Summer Music Festival.
My friend, Doug, held up the laptop computer so the entire room could see David and hear him speak about how the composition came about when the Ukrainian war had started…”
