Amazing Grace is the kind of song you expect to hear at a memorial service, but when it sounded through the U.S. Naval Academy during the funeral service of U.S. Senator John McCain last week, it was a version composed by Esquimaltsa国际传媒檚 .
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been out there for a while,sa国际传媒� he says of the piece he composed more than 20 years ago that includes a choral accompaniment and bagpipes and was performed by the Brophy Student Ensemble of Phoenix, Arizona.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 so plaintive,sa国际传媒� he describes. sa国际传媒淚t just goes into your heart and can make you weep when you hear the pipes and hear the music floating over you.sa国际传媒�
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Hatfield, who grew up in 1950s Langford, credits his parents for providing him with an education in music.
sa国际传媒淢y parents busted themselves to get me good piano lessons,sa国际传媒� he says. sa国际传媒淚 feel really fortunate to have had this career because I didnsa国际传媒檛 expect it. I didnsa国际传媒檛 think I was talented enough.sa国际传媒�
Now a world-renowned choral composer, Hatfield sa国际传媒� who has worked with choirs in Washington, D.C. sa国际传媒� says he was sa国际传媒渢ickled pinksa国际传媒� to have his music be part of a public mourning for a man who he felt had both dignity and honour.
sa国际传媒淚 admired the man,sa国际传媒� he says. sa国际传媒淗e had a rather anodyne idea of what U.S. military intervention might accomplish but given his background he had the right.sa国际传媒�
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McCain, who died Aug. 25 at the age of 81, after a year-long battle with brain cancer, was a prisoner of the Vietnam war who served his country politically for 35 years, including a run for president on the Republican ticket with then-Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.
Hatfield isnsa国际传媒檛 sure if McCain personally chose his version of Amazing Grace after it was widely reported the Senator had planned much of his own funeral, to which he did not invite President Donald Trump.
Regardless, to think his sa国际传媒渓ittle piece of musicsa国际传媒� could be a part of such a sa国际传媒渄eep public expression of griefsa国际传媒� leaves Hatfield heartened.
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These days, Hatfieldsa国际传媒檚 creative outlet is working with local a capella group, . Having long admired the work of Lynda Raino, Hatfield calls the chance to connect with the trio musically, sa国际传媒渢he ultimate fan story.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚 just love working with them,sa国际传媒� he says. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 so different from a concert choir. Itsa国际传媒檚 just so cool to think that heresa国际传媒檚 somebody of whom I was such a big fan and they pull me aboard. Itsa国际传媒檚 so rewarding.sa国际传媒�
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