About CAntusThis choral ensemble from Minnesota featuring tenor, baritone, and bass voices, can be heard in concert halls worldwide. The group performs in many languages and across a range of musical genres without a conductor, music director, or any accompaniment. Cantus also dedicates much of its time to educating and inspiring young listeners and performers by holding interactive musical workshops with students every year.

things to think About…n Why were commanding officers against

fraternizing? Why would a truce be considered dangerous or inappropriate?

n Do you think music played an important role in brokering the peace at Christmas? Why or why not?

n In what ways are the Allied and Central Power armies similar?

WhAt to listen And WAtCh for…n Christmas songs you may recognize but sound

a bit different or have different harmonies. Why do you think the musical arrangers made these changes?

n The moment when a tenor re-enacts an opera singer’s solo on the battlefield.

n How each of the actors and singers assumes the roles of many soldiers from a variety of nations. How are you able to tell the characters apart?

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Phot

o by

Geo

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Photo by Curtis Johnson

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Michael M. Kaiser President

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

The Fortas Chamber Music Concerts are supported by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy’s Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; and Washington Gas.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

All is CAlm: the ChristmAs truCe of 1914

In the freezing winter of 1914, World War I soldiers found themselves locked in conflict along the borders of France and Belgium—the famous Western Front. Yet, for one evening, men fighting on opposite sides of this bloody battle put down their weapons and greeted their enemies as friends. Why? Because it was Christmas.

By Peter Rothstein Musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. TakachFeaturing Cantus

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A true storyAll is Calm follows the true tale of the unlikely Christmas truce between Allied and Central Power forces during the first winter of the “Great War.” Only months into the conflict by December 1914, soldiers had already suffered unspeakable tragedy in this battle that pitted France, Belgium, Russia, and Great Britain against Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy. Both sides endured horrific conditions in dirty and disease-ridden trenches, while new developments in the art of warfare left hundreds of thousands dead, missing, or wounded on the barren “No Man’s Land” between the front lines.

As December dragged on, however, soldiers from rival armies found ways of bonding over their shared experiences. Despite orders from many commanding officers not to make friends or “fraternize” with men across the field, friendly “hellos” were exchanged between the ranks. Inspired by the peaceful message of the season, men at several points along the front actually climbed out of the trenches and celebrated Christmas Eve with their supposed enemies. They ate, drank, told stories, played games, and sang songs. For a few moments “No Man’s Land was every man’s land.”

Nearly 100 years later, playwright Peter Rothstein decided to bring this story to dramatic life onstage. Rothstein, the Founding Artistic Director of Theater Latté Da, made several trips to Europe and collected many World War I artifacts, including countless photos, Christmas cards, and letters as research for All is Calm.

Knowing that radio was the chief means of communication and entertainment in 1914, Rothstein chose to present All is Calm as a radio drama. During the performance, actors from Theater Latté Da will read quotations from actual eyewitness accounts of the Christmas truce as Cantus re-enacts the “musical ‘Round Robin’” that was sung among the soldiers.

Calm and Quiet on the Western Front

Soldiers from opposing armies join together and pose for a picture at Christmastime in 1914.

Phot

o by

Geo

rGe

byro

n Gr

iffi

ths,

201

0.

soldiers’ songsThis performance features a variety of musical solos and choral ensembles meant to recapture the spirit of the battlefield and to recreate the peaceful atmosphere of that fateful Christmas Eve. These songs are sung a cappella (meaning without instruments) and are presented in three different languages. Here are just a handful of the songs you will hear:

“Come On and Join” (Alexander’s Ragtime Band) by Irving Berlin

“God Save the King” English Traditional 

“It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” by Jack Judge and Harry Williams 

“Pack Up Your Troubles” by George Henry Powell and Felix Powell 

“Deutschlandlied” by Franz Joseph Haydn 

“Keep the Home-Fires Burning” by Ivor Novello

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” 12th Century chant

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” English Traditional Carol 

“O Tannenbaum” German Carol

“Silent Night” by Franz Gruber

“Angels We Have Heard on High” French Traditional 

“Wassail” Based on traditional texts 

“Minuit chrétiens (O Holy Night)” by Adolph Adam

“Good King Wenceslas” Piae Cantionis 

“Auld Lang Syne” Scottish Folk Song

A true storyAll is Calm follows the true tale of the unlikely Christmas truce between Allied and Central Power forces during the first winter of the “Great War.” Only months into the conflict by December 1914, soldiers had already suffered unspeakable tragedy in this battle that pitted France, Belgium, Russia, and Great Britain against Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy. Both sides endured horrific conditions in dirty and disease-ridden trenches, while new developments in the art of warfare left hundreds of thousands dead, missing, or wounded on the barren “No Man’s Land” between the front lines.

As December dragged on, however, soldiers from rival armies found ways of bonding over their shared experiences. Despite orders from many commanding officers not to make friends or “fraternize” with men across the field, friendly “hellos” were exchanged between the ranks. Inspired by the peaceful message of the season, men at several points along the front actually climbed out of the trenches and celebrated Christmas Eve with their supposed enemies. They ate, drank, told stories, played games, and sang songs. For a few moments “No Man’s Land was every man’s land.”

Nearly 100 years later, playwright Peter Rothstein decided to bring this story to dramatic life onstage. Rothstein, the Founding Artistic Director of Theater Latté Da, made several trips to Europe and collected many World War I artifacts, including countless photos, Christmas cards, and letters as research for All is Calm.

Knowing that radio was the chief means of communication and entertainment in 1914, Rothstein chose to present All is Calm as a radio drama. During the performance, actors from Theater Latté Da will read quotations from actual eyewitness accounts of the Christmas truce as Cantus re-enacts the “musical ‘Round Robin’” that was sung among the soldiers.

Calm and Quiet on the Western Front

Soldiers from opposing armies join together and pose for a picture at Christmastime in 1914.

Phot

o by

Geo

rGe

byro

n Gr

iffi

ths,

201

0.

soldiers’ songsThis performance features a variety of musical solos and choral ensembles meant to recapture the spirit of the battlefield and to recreate the peaceful atmosphere of that fateful Christmas Eve. These songs are sung a cappella (meaning without instruments) and are presented in three different languages. Here are just a handful of the songs you will hear:

“Come On and Join” (Alexander’s Ragtime Band) by Irving Berlin

“God Save the King” English Traditional 

“It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” by Jack Judge and Harry Williams 

“Pack Up Your Troubles” by George Henry Powell and Felix Powell 

“Deutschlandlied” by Franz Joseph Haydn 

“Keep the Home-Fires Burning” by Ivor Novello

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” 12th Century chant

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” English Traditional Carol 

“O Tannenbaum” German Carol

“Silent Night” by Franz Gruber

“Angels We Have Heard on High” French Traditional 

“Wassail” Based on traditional texts 

“Minuit chrétiens (O Holy Night)” by Adolph Adam

“Good King Wenceslas” Piae Cantionis 

“Auld Lang Syne” Scottish Folk Song

About CAntusThis choral ensemble from Minnesota featuring tenor, baritone, and bass voices, can be heard in concert halls worldwide. The group performs in many languages and across a range of musical genres without a conductor, music director, or any accompaniment. Cantus also dedicates much of its time to educating and inspiring young listeners and performers by holding interactive musical workshops with students every year.

things to think About…n Why were commanding officers against

fraternizing? Why would a truce be considered dangerous or inappropriate?

n Do you think music played an important role in brokering the peace at Christmas? Why or why not?

n In what ways are the Allied and Central Power armies similar?

WhAt to listen And WAtCh for…n Christmas songs you may recognize but sound

a bit different or have different harmonies. Why do you think the musical arrangers made these changes?

n The moment when a tenor re-enacts an opera singer’s solo on the battlefield.

n How each of the actors and singers assumes the roles of many soldiers from a variety of nations. How are you able to tell the characters apart?

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Phot

o by

Geo

rGe

byro

n Gr

iffi

ths,

201

0.

Photo by Curtis Johnson

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Michael M. Kaiser President

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

The Fortas Chamber Music Concerts are supported by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy’s Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; and Washington Gas.

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

All is CAlm: the ChristmAs truCe of 1914

In the freezing winter of 1914, World War I soldiers found themselves locked in conflict along the borders of France and Belgium—the famous Western Front. Yet, for one evening, men fighting on opposite sides of this bloody battle put down their weapons and greeted their enemies as friends. Why? Because it was Christmas.

By Peter Rothstein Musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. TakachFeaturing Cantus

Cuesheet P

er

fo

rm

an

Ce G

uid

e