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Solitaire (The Virtue of Patience)

by Mirla

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Longing 04:02
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Patience 04:15
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Nihon Sun 05:38

about

--- Story Behind the Album ---

Mirla (17) and Arthur (19) were falling in love, just as the events of the Second World War would separate them.

On Valentine’s Day 1942, Arthur waved goodbye to Mirla and sailed from Fremantle, aboard the HMAS Perth, towards a Pacific War.

Two weeks later, the Perth was destroyed in the Battle of Sunda Strait.

Autumn turned to winter with still no word on Arthur. Had he survived?

In those hardest of times, the blackest of moments, Mirla returned from work to find a bundle of her letters, all unopened, all ‘Returned to sender’; worst of all, there is the letter in which she declared her love for Arthur. It was a devastating blow.

Arthur cheated death. He survived the HMAS Perth and the forced labour on the Burma (Death) Railway. Later, as he was being transported to yet another camp, Arthur survived a second sinking; for six days he clung to debris, before being rescued by the American's on USS Queenfish.

Throughout those long months of waiting and suffering, and not knowing, Mirla also learned to survive: by protecting herself (her love for Arthur), from her self-doubts and fears. Leaning into the virtues of hope, resilience and patience, Mirla held on. After more than two years of waiting are over. Arthur returned to Mirla. They went out dancing. In time, they were married, for over 60 years.

Their remarkable story has truly inspired generations of Australians, not least their granddaughter and composer: Emily Mirla Harrison.

"Nana (Mirla) lived out those long waiting days in a personal battle: between fear and a counter-force of ‘hope’. This is the particular psychology that I explore in Solitaire.

Through a uniquely female lens (by way of an epic musical journey), the album follows Mirla as she moves passed her heartache and longing into stoicism and growth. We explore Mirla's capacity for resilience as she triumphs over adversity: skilfully balancing unwavering hope with a remarkable capacity to maintain hope, remain calm and endure"
- Emily Mirla Harrison.

credits

released September 3, 2021

Written and produced by Emily Mirla Harrison
Piano - Emily Mirla Harrison
Cello - Hannah Oblikov
Viola and Violin - Jessica Arlo Irish
Male vocal (Work on Konyu Cutting) - Michael McGlynn

Recorded and mixed by Sean Carey at Church St Studios Camperdown

Spoken word excerpts from book 'Arthur's War' by John Harman and Arthur Bancroft - Penguin Books Australia.

Original Poetry - Christopher Gorman

Artwork - Klawe Rezcsky

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about

Mirla Newcastle, Australia

Mirla is an Australian neo-classical pianist and screen composer
Mirla blends classical form with contemporary elements of minimalism, electronica and experimental. Piano is flourished in strings, subtle rhythm, field recordings and sophisticated soundscapes. ... more

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