Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Sun and Rocks, 1918-50; watercolor on gouache on joined paper mounted on board, 40 x 56 inches (Enlarged from Song of the Peterbird, 1918, 26 x 19 inches); Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, Room of Contemporary Art Fund, 1953
Charles Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 46, May 7, 1945
Thursday, May 7, 2015
End of the signing of "complete & unconditional" surrender conditions released by one war correspondent, begins to seep thru the radio, until they are forced to admit it is over; but that it had been agreed that it would be officially amended in all capitals of the Allies at once. That “official” announcement is set for 9:00am tomorrow. But today is, in reality VE day (the terms signed at 2:41 a.m.)
B [Bertha] home at 1:10. We went downtown to get foodstuffs.
Evening - the concert at Kleinhans. It turned out to be a glorious occasion. After a beautifully played “Freischütz Overture (with its beautiful hymn, “My Jesus, as thou wilt”) Conductor Ormandy announced that instead of the Mendelsohn Symphony, he named as a tribute to our armed forces, playing the Beethoven Fifth. It was one of the things one dreams of experiencing but seldom does in actuality. Superbly played by the Symphony, was perfect for the occasion…the last movement; the whole audience arose as by a grand plan, and stood to the end.
During the intermission, meet Berlins & Nichols.
They followed the “Chant of 1942” by Paul Creston - very thrilling, and the Rosenkavalier Suite by R. Strauss.
There is a feeling of humility, and absent of sadness.
Charles Burchfield, May 7, 1945