Program Peek: Sketches of Courage, Sean Schafer Hennessy
“Perhaps, in some small way, my grandfather’s soul can rest easier knowing we are telling part of his story—a story he could never truly tell.”
“Mistake”
from the sketchbook of Francis Xavier Hennessy II
Every generation carries stories from the last. For composer Sean Schafer Hennessy, those stories came in the form of a sketchbook—created by his grandfather, Francis Xavier Hennessy II, a WWII forward observer who saw combat from Normandy to Mortain. He witnessed trauma few of us can imagine. But he didn’t speak of it. Instead, he sketched.
Now, Sean transforms those ink-lined memories into sound. Through “Sketches of Courage,” we feel the tension of life on the front lines, the fragility of humanity, and the weight of silence that many veterans carry. It’s music born not just from history, but from grief, love, and a longing to understand someone we’ve lost.
Sean says, “I never met my grandfather. Through music, I’ve tried to bring honor to the human being behind the uniform.” In every phrase, we hear the echoes of a generation that bore unspeakable burdens with quiet strength.
This multimovement work has evolved from a 5 minute concept to a full fledge symphony for brass with narration and multimedia components. It’s a new, modern Lincoln Portrait, that touches on the impact and weight of war and the cost of freedom.
“His sketchbook, created after the war, has been my only window into who he was. Through music, I’ve tried to bring those images to life and to honor the human being behind the uniform.”
“Scout”
From the sketchbook of Francis Xavier Hennessy II
The performance will feature photographs and visuals courtesy of the 30th Infantry Division photo archive at OldHickory30th.com. This story is told through two kinds of images the photographs taken in the moment by members of the 30th Infantry Division, and the sketches Frank made when the moments were too heavy to speak aloud.
Francis “Frank” Xavier Hennessy II
“Sketches of Courage is inspired by the wartime sketchbook of my grandfather, Francis Xavier Hennessy II, who served as a forward observer with the 230th Field Artillery Battalion, attached to the 30th Infantry Division during World War II. Tasked with calling in and adjusting artillery fire from the front lines, he played a critical role in battles from the D-Day landings at Normandy to the pivotal stand at Mortain, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor.
“Like many veterans, he carried the invisible wounds of war for the rest of his life. I never had the chance to meet him—he died alone, struggling with what we now understand to be PTSD. His sketchbook, created after the war, has been my only window into who he was. Through music, I’ve tried to bring those images to life and to honor the human being behind the uniform.
“My hope is that listeners not only hear the echoes of history, but also feel the weight of memory, sacrifice, and unspoken pain that so many service members carry—and that, in doing so, they gain a deeper appreciation for the courage it takes to serve, survive, and carry on.
“Perhaps, in some small way, my grandfather’s soul can rest easier knowing we are telling part of his story—a story he could never truly tell.” - Sean Schafer Hennessy