Listen to Kimiko Hahn perform The Music of Niagara in 1881 as Described by Eugene Thayer in Scribner’s Monthly
What did I hear? The roar of Niagara Falls?
Niagara Gives a tone and not a roar!
Under the Horseshoe, in its misty halls—
What did I hear? Not the roar of Niagara Falls!
The sound is neither noise nor squall—
one’s organs are an organ; the shower, the chords.
What a choir under Niagara Falls!
Niagara waters sing! Only a beast roars!
Source: Kimiko Hahn
Kimiko Hahn, New York State Poet Laureate, wrote and performed this poem for the Niagara Falls Poetry Project’s 25th Anniversary, where it was featured at the April 9, 2026 event launching the Poetry Contest. Click here for information about the contest and the event.
Push On, brave York Volunteers by John David Kelly, 1896. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Low-bending o’er the rugged bier,
The soldier drops the mournful tear
For life departed, valor driven
Fresh from the fields of death to Heaven.
But time shall fondly trace the name
Of Brock, upon the scrolls of Fame,
And those bright laurels, which should wave
Upon the brow of one so brave
Shall flourish vernal o’er his grave.
Source: McCabe, Kevin. (ed.) The Poetry of Old Niagara. St. Catharines: Blarney Stone Books, 1999. Previously published in F.B. Tupper (ed.) The Life and Correspondence of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. 2nd ed. London, 1847. Poem is undated.
Composer and conductor Harris Loewen set this poem to music, with the score published by Renforth Music Publishing (New Brunswick) under the title Tears and Laurels. At the publisher’s request, the lyrics were slightly altered to create a version of the musical score that is non-specific, allowing it to function as an elegy for any war veteran. However, this recording was used on the publisher’s website. Many thanks to Prof. Loewen for permission to post this here.
This track, as well as At Niagara Falls and Peaceful Niagara,* appear on the CD Voices of Niagara 5: Beauty is Before Me, the last in a choral CD series featuring music writing by Niagara composers. I believe that all the recordings in the series may still be available through the Dept. of Music at Brock University. Incidentally, John Butler’s choral arrangement of Macdonnell on the Heights (Stan Rogers) also appears on this CD.
You will notice that, coincidentally, all three pieces are originally written for male voices (although scores for other voicings are now also published). These tracks were all recorded, here in Niagara, by the combined male singers of Avanti Chamber Singers and the Brock University choirs. So, this is “home-grown” material in every sense.
At Niagara Falls and Peaceful Niagara were commissioned by the Niagara Men’s Chorus and premiered separately in two concerts in 2008. On the Death of General Brock (my original title) was written to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and premiered by a small male ensemble at the October 2012 Brock University Soiree, a fundraising event. The publication dates of the musical scores, by the way, do not reflect the date of composition.
*Peaceful Niagara is the name of the composition of Prof. Harris, using the poem Niagara in 1882 by John Macdonald.
I just discovered that two Niagarapoems that are on the NFPP site have been set to music by Harris Loewen, a retired Brock University professor. For a delightful treat I’ve embedded the recordings to At Niagara Falls by Anson G. Chester and Niagara in 1882 by John Macdonald. The Macdonald poem was named Peaceful Niagara for Loewen’s choral version.
This poem was not written by Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, who was an Anglican. This was written by John Macdonald of Toronto, who was in Parliament at the same time as John A., and was later appointed to the Senate by John A., but who was prominent in the Methodist Church for many years. Read a biography of John Macdonald
Many thanks to Arden Phair for referring this poem to the NFPP
Composer and conductor Harris Loewen set this poem to music in 2019, as Peaceful Niagara, published by Cypress Choral Music. Listen to the composition on Soundcloud. Many thanks to Prof. Loewen for permission to post this here.
In the Maytime, at Niagara, As a Sabbath morning broke, Full of glory, peace and beauty, From his dreams the sleeper woke.
All was quiet, save the thunder That forever there prevails — That, throughout the gathering ages, Never pauses, never fails.
But the thunder of the torrent Of a sudden died away, Just as if a spell of silence On the rampant waters lay.
For a robin, at the casement, Trilled its carols sweet and strong, And he heard the roar no longer — It was vanquished by the song!
On thine ear the roar and tumult Of the noisy world must fall, But a little song of love and trust Will overcome it all.
Source: Kevin McCabe, ed. The Poetry of Old Niagara. St. Catharines, Ont. : Blarney Stone Books, 1999.
Originally published in Poets and Poetry of Buffalo. 1904.
Composer and conductor Harris Loewen set this poem to music in 2018, published by Cypress Choral Music. Listen to the composition on Soundcloud. Many thanks to Prof. Loewen for permission to post this here.
