(Re)Connected
Music for Wind Band, New Compositions, Other Arrangements, ,

(Re)Connected

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade5-6
Duration15 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download
Complete score and set are not available before the premiere (Fall 2021) has taken place by “Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso” The Netherlands.

… is a musical adventure for concert band, commissioned by the “Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso” (NL) and their chief-conductor Tijmen Botma.

Due to the Covid pandemic, there have been hardly live performances by orchestras around the world for (sometimes more than) a year. With this work an attempt is made to make renewed contact with the numerous concert audience. 

(Re)Connected is therefore a work in which famous melodies of grandmasters from the past are connected in a special way and in which a (renewed) interaction between musicians and the audience takes place.

The work opens with Toccata by Claudio Monteverdi from “Orfeo”. Subsequently, the 1st cello sonata by Johann Sebastian Bach takes a prominent place, with a quartet of musicians interacting with the material.

On the basis of the exhibited themes, a fugal structure develops in which new material is used from the Overture “Entführung aus dem Serail” and the final movement from “Die Kleine Nachtmusik” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

After this virtuoso intermezzo peace returns with the famous theme of the adagio from the 9th symphony (“from the new world”) by Anton Dvorak. From this develops a dramatic part based on main theme of Dvorak 9th.

After a brief recollection of Bach and the “(Re)Connected” motif, which is clearly discernible throughout the work, the finale begins based on the impressive theme “Ode to joy” from Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th symphony.

An interactive musical adventure in which musicians and audience are “reunited” with the so beloved grandmasters from music history.

Choral Intermezzo
Music for Fanfare Band, Music for Wind Band, New Compositions,

Choral Intermezzo

InstrumentationWind Band
Fanfare Band
Grade4
Duration5 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score (Wind Band)→ Download
Demo Score (Fanfare Band)→ Download

A colorful intermezzo for fanfare band commissioned by the Band of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.

After a short opening the horn solo plays the main theme. After the first theme follows a solemn choral which develops into a fusion between the main theme and the choral, with a smooth and connecting 3rd theme.

Useful as an intermezzo during a concert.

Wind band version
Fanfare band version

REVIVED
Music for Ensemble, Music for Wind Band, New Compositions, , ,

REVIVED

InstrumentationWind Band
Ensemble(s)
Grade3 – 5
Duration4 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

“Revived” was commissioned by “Royal Military Wind Band Johan Willem Friso” (NL) in cooperation with “WMC Kerkrade” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of “Muziekcentrale Adams” in Thorn (NL). 

The aim was to give the various orchestras around the world affected by the Covid19 pandemic new hope, élan and perspective in the form of a composition that could also be performed by smaller subensembles. In this way, despite the Covid19 restrictions, the orchestras can make music together again. 

“Revived” can be performed separately by;

  • Clarinet choir
  • Flutes, oboe(s), bassoon(s), saxes & contrabass
  • Brass & percussion
  • Wind band (All ensemble versions combined)

Also, the overture is delivered simultaneously in two different levels of difficulty:

  • Grade 3
  • Grade 4/5

A short but vibrant overture that hopefully will give pleasure to many sub-ensembles and orchestras all over the world.

Der Arme Poet
Music for Wind Band, New Compositions,

Der Arme Poet

“Winner of The Valley Winds International Composition Competition, 2021 – Brian Messier, Director”

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade5
Duration10 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download
Score and Parts are not available before June 2022
Der Arme Poet (the poor poet) (FULL MIDI)

“Der Arme Poet” (painted 1839) in is the most popular painting by the German Painter Carl Spitzweg.

In 1839, Spitzweg was a beginning artist who in the 1830s lived for a long time on the top floor of a house in old Munich, from which he wrote in one of his letters: “The view is great, the roofs resemble a large mountain range, with the chimneys and attic windows like ruins and castles”.

The influence of the Biedermeier style is easily recognizable in the painting. The typical pursuit of a bourgeois bohemian existence is reflected in the various attributes. In combination with the poor environment the whole gives a parodical appearance.

The poems that were once thought to have eternal value are sacrificed to the stove as soon as they can provide some warmth.

Characteristic of the painting is the quill that holds the poet clamped between his teeth, indicating that he continues his work unrelentingly.

Above his bed you can see a hexameter scheme, which indicates the meter of verse. Next to his bed is a stack of classical books with inscriptions such as “Gradus ad Parnassum”, which represent the high ideals of the artist.

Between his fingers he seems to crush a flea, which expresses the banality of the situation.

Night Watch Rhapsody
Music for Orchestra, Music for Soloist, Music for Wind Band, New Compositions,

Night Watch Rhapsody

InstrumentationEb Clarinet & Wind Band
Eb Clarinet & Orchestra
Grade5
Duration11 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score (score)→ Download
Eb solo part→ Download
Night Watch Rhapsody (Full Midi)

Rembrandt’s Night Watch has already moved many people.

Whether it is the beautiful “clair-obscure” or simply the “moving” scene of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and his men, the fact remains that the painting continues to attract you.

In this Night Watch Rhapsody I tried to translate the scene, as well as the many hues, as if the painting were being painted on the spot.

An important role is therefore reserved for the soloist on E-flat clarinet, who takes on the role of Rembrandt and, together with the orchestra – in which the orchestra does not merely take on the accompaniment – tries to bring the Night Watch to life.

This work was composed and dedicated to the E-flat clarinet soloist of the wind orchestra of the Royal Belgian Guides (Belgium), David van Maele

Version for Wind Band:

Version for Orchestra:

Ein Winzer Spiel
Music for Wind Band, New Compositions,

Ein Winzer Spiel

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade4
Duration12 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

“Ein Winzer Spiel” (a winery piece for windband) was commissioned by the Family Fritz Keller (Kaiserstuhl, Germany) for the 200 year anniversary of the Winzerkapelle Oberbergen im Kaiserstuhl, in which a number of characteristic elements of the “Kaiserstuhl” wine region and the Oberbergen district are highlighted.

This suite consists of 3 contrasting parts.

1. The Kaiserstuhl

An impression of the beautiful landscape with its rich history. In the middle of this part a specific part from “Kaiserstuhl” is highlighted, namely “Die Oberbergener Bassgeige” an area around the village Oberbergen in the form of a double bass (hence the name) in which high-quality vine culture takes place.

2. The St. Mauritius Kirche

The St. Mauritius Church is an inseparable part of Oberbergen, a beacon of peace and reflection.

3. The Winzerspiele

A playful final part of this suite in which the cozy and competitive wine festivals are illustrated in the form of a Waltz. The “Oberbergener Weinlied” is added here as an additional illustrative element to the uplifting nature of this part.

75 Jaor Vreej
Music for Brass Band, Music for Fanfare Band, Music for Orchestra, Music for Piano or Organ, Music for Voices, Music for Wind Band,

75 Jaor Vreej

InstrumentationWindband & Choir
Fanfare Band & Choir
Brass Band & Choir
Orchestra & Choir
Piano & Choir
Grade3
Duration11 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

75 Years of Liberation.

Based on the beautiful text (in Limburgian language) by lyricist Frans Pollux “75 Jaor Vreej”, I wrote a composition with the same title (of approx. 11 minutes) in several versions and combinations and perfomable in all possible local dialects of Limburg.

This wonderful assignment was given to me by a joint initiative of Limburgse Bond Van Muziekgezelschappen, VNK Limburg, Limburgse Bond van Tamboerkorpsen i.s.m. House for the Arts Limburg.

A very great way to contribute to the Limburg language and musical culture.

“75 Jaor Vreej” – Windband version (Full Midi Demo)

Fiddlers’ Green
Music for Voices, Music for Wind Band,

Fiddlers’ Green

for tenor & symphonic wind-orchestra

…is the 4th part from “→ Remount” and is based on the cavalry poem.

Fiddlers’ Green

Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead Troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers’ Green.

Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen
Accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddler’s Green.

Though some go curving down the trail 
To seek a warmer scene.
No Trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he’s emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers’ Green.

Demo score:

Fiddlers’ Green – DEMODownload