Is based on Aesop’s Fable of the two dogs who are so busy fighting over a bone that they don’t notice a third one coming until it is too late and it has run off with it.
Two musical themes are fighting for their right to exist, but a third theme runs away with the honour.
Recording: by Frysk Fanfare Orkest (NL) – conducted by Jouke Hoekstra.
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
Is based on a quotation from John Irving:
“Our dreams escape us however vividly we imagine them. There’s only one thing you can do, keep passing the open windows.” ‐ John Irving
John Irving (1943) an American novelist, famous for his well turned phrases and apt pronouncements e.g. “Your memory is a monster, you forget – it doesn’t. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you – and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory; but it has you!”
In “Passing the Open Windows” I have attempted to catch the atmosphere of this quotation. Having dreams (which escape us) and trying to visualize a dream. Also I have portrayed “passing” by a sort of processional march, which passes by. The use of this can be interpreted figuratively in the sense of “Don’t choose the most obvious route to your dream.” It ends simply but effectively with the portrayal of the vanishing dream.
Demo Score: → Passing the open windows
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
A musical description of “The Old Man of Hoy”, a 137 meter high sandstone pillar on a volcanic foot, situated on the Scottish Island of Hoy.
Hoy is the 2nd largest of the Orkney Islands. These islands, to the north-east of Scotland, are very windy. Many birds breed on the sheer cliffs surrounding “The Old Man of Hoy.
Recording: by Fanfare Orkest “De Hoop” Stellendam (NL) – conducted by Arie Stolk.
Full Recording: CD ➞ “Tarass Boulba”
Demo Score: ➞ Old Man of Hoy
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
Gaia is a figure from the Greek mythology.
She is the mother goddess, the Earth, which arose from the chaos at the beginning of things. Chaos contains all the basic ingredients, the four elements of earth, air, fire and water. From there came Gaia, nature goddess, often depicted as a plump woman. Emerging from the ground and always attached.
This composition is based on the story of Gaia.
Recording: (live) by Fanfare Orkest “De Hoop” Stellendam (NL) – conducted by Arie Stolk.
Demo Score: ➞ Gaia
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
Is based on a poem by Friedrich von Schiller: “Der Kampf mit dem Drachen.”
In this poem he describes the battle with his own ego. He wins, but as it wasn’t a fair fight, he won by trickery and cunning, he has to account for his deeds. “judge not until you have evaluated” is an adage that is appropriate to this work.
The main theme “der Ritter, hoch zu Ross” the anti-hero, the ego, is played by the trombone section. The music follows the general drift of the story. Firstly the fact that the knight is fighting against the dragon (his own ego), later on his accounting to his conscience, and then the story of how he rediscovers his true self, in the form of a romantic melody, which takes the form of a flashback.
The work ends with reconciliation, begging for grace and forgiveness, and then the embracing of the one who was cast out. His ego has been defeated. An appropriate saying to describe this would be “He is no longer too big for his boots”.
The title “Episode” refers to the fact that more episodes from the poem are used to tell the musical story.
Recording: (first performance) by Fanfare “Brass-aux-Saxes” Westerlo (B) – conducted by Christiaan Janssen.
Demo Score: ➞ Episode for Fanfare
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
This work consists of 22 fragments each of 8 bars (spacings). These dances are separated by a chorale-like theme and end with a sparkling coda.
The ten different themes portray the different events in space. And so form an exceptional (extraterrestrial) sparkling tableau.(outing)
A very spectacular work in an unusual genre for Fanfare Band.
Full Recording: CD ➞ “Dangerous Liaisons”.
Demo Score: ➞ Dance in outer Spacing (1)
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
The inspiration for this four part work came from past masters.
The first movement is inspired by the music of John Adams. It is light footed with playful elements alternated by spirited rhythmic passages.
Bela Bartok was the source of inspiration for the second movement. A melody in folk style is supported by a rhythmic ostinato.
In the third movement I was inspired by Shostakovitch. A quiet and lullaby like motif develops from a simple rhythmic accompaniment of notes which are close together.
The final movement is effervescent and has Iberian influences as in the works of Darius Milhaud. It is virtuoso and rousing.
Whilst not wishing to imitate the above mentioned composers I have tried to compose a solo work for Wind Band, in which each section is fully exploited.
Full Recording: CD ➞ “Respighiana”.
Demo Score: ➞ Concerto for Band
Publisher: → Bronsheim Music
Recorded (live) by Wind Ensemble “Zuiderwind” (NL) – conducted by Jos van de Braak.
This work was written in a fairly short time and I cherish the memories related to its composition. That is why I give it the pet name of “Zuiderwind Concertino”.
A pet name with a double meaning, firstly referring to the ensemble “Zuiderwind”, but it is also a reference to a corner of the world where everything is more pleasant than here. This last relates to the death of my brother-in-law, to whom this work is dedicated.
The first movement, Andante con Moto, is a sort of serenade, a quiet lullaby like movement, in which the main theme is presented by a horn or clarinet solo. This movement exudes serenity and level-headedness, like the character of my brother-in-law.
The second movement, Allegro Molto Scherzando, is a sort of fleeting dance, a sort of Scherzo, but then again not. It has some common ground with Mahler whilst still remaining accessible.
The third movement Adagio non troppo – Andante Calme e Celeste, is an emotional finale to the concertino. Here, the main theme forms the basis of a melody (with thanks to Puccini). In the Coda (Andante Calme e Celeste) the main theme returns with an almost celestial atmosphere.
Demo Score: ➞ Concertino for Winds, (a version with 2 horns is also available)
Publisher: Janssen Music
