(Re)Connected
Music for Wind Band, Transcriptions for Wind Band,

(Re)Connected

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade5
Duration16 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Scoreon demand

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

Score and parts are available only on demand. Please contact us via the → Contact form.

Regalo Festivo Ouverture
Music for Orchestra,

Regalo Festivo Ouverture

InstrumentationOrchestra
Grade4
Duration8 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

‘Regalo Festivo Ouverture’ is a frivolous and colourful overture for orchestra. The work was commissioned by the University Orchestra Maastricht and serves as a prelude to its concerts.

The work is freely inspired by Jan Steen’s painting “the village class”, in which the everyday chaos within a classroom can be felt.

It is also a reference to the connection with the university, where students experience their hopefully best time of their lives that eventually leads to a successful career.

In the work, the various musical themes develop into a grand apotheosis.

Nocturne
Music for Ensemble,

Nocturne

Instrumentation8 Flugelhorns
Grade4 / 5
Duration6 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

Nocturne is an atmospheric dialogue between the 8 flugelhorn soloists.

After a quiet start, some commotion arises, but soon calm returns.

This composition was commissioned by “Orkest Koninklijke Marechaussee” (NL)

For E-flat Flugelhorn, 6 Flugelhorns & Bass Flugelhorn (or Bb Baritone as alternative)

Impresiones de Estepona
Music for Wind Band,

Impresiones de Estepona

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade3
Duration15 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download
Impresiones de Estepona (Full Midi)

Awarded composition of the 3rd International Composition Competition for Symphonic Band “Estepona, Jardín de la Costa del Sol”

“Impresiones de Estepona” is a continuous suite for symphonic band based on the cultural and musical heritage of Estepona.

In the first part, after a short majestic opening, the center of the city is musically expressed in the form of a colorful rondo with some free references to the Andalusian Cadenza. My inspiration was the colorful streets of Estepona, linked to the rich history of the city, where the Moorish influences can be seen, felt and heard.

The second part tells us about the beautiful monuments in the old city, starting from the church of “los Remedios”, walking along the various interesting sights, ending with the great panorama at “Punta Doncella”.

The last part of this suite is all about “Ferias y Fiestas”. Also here I used the traditional ceremonies as inspiration combined with some free references to flamenco, taking us from “San Isidro Labrador” to the “Ferias y Fiestas mayores” along all the cheerful, exciting and ecstatic celebrations. The work ends euphorically with the opening motif.

The work has numerous educational elements for wind orchestras, such as counterpoint, rhythmic variation and timbre variations. The work is therefore more than just a beautiful story about a beautiful city in Spain and hopefully inspire many musicians and orchestra to get the best out of themselves.

Digital Set is available from 20 June 2024! – Digital Score is available now!

Le Penseur / The Thinker
Music for Wind Band,

Le Penseur / The Thinker

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade6
Duration13 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download
Le Penseur (Full Midi)

→ contact us for hiring possibilities…

When The Thinker was conceived in its original size (approx. 70 cm) in 1880 as the crowning achievement of The Gates of Hell, seated on the tympanum, it was given the title The Poet. He represented Dante, author of the Divine Comedy who had inspired The Gates, bent over to observe the circles of hell, meditating on his work. The Thinker was therefore initially both a being with a tortured body, almost a damned soul, and a free-thinking man, determined to transcend his suffering through poetry. The pose of this figure owes much to Carpeaux’s Ugolino (1861) and to the seated portrait of Lorenzo de’ Medici carved by Michelangelo (1526-31).

Remaining in place on the monumental Gates of Hell, The Thinker was exhibited individually in 1888, becoming an independent work. The colossal version, enlarged in 1904, proved even more popular: this sculpture of a man lost in thought, but whose powerful body suggests a great capacity for action, has become one of the most celebrated sculptures ever. There are numerous casts worldwide, including the one now in the gardens of the Musée Rodin, a gift to the City of Paris installed outside the Panthéon in 1906, and another in the gardens of Rodin’s house in Meudon, on the sculptor’s tomb and his wife.

A challenging composition for wind orchestra based on several “leidmotifs”, written from the perspective of the thinker, who ponders the different emotions and characters of the leitmotifs before coming to a conclusion, but with an open ending, because after all, the thoughts go on again…

Little Folksong Rhapsody
Music for Ensemble,

Little Folksong Rhapsody

InstrumentationWind quintet
Saz & Duduk
Grade4
Duration10 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

…is based on 6 authentic Turkish and Armenian folk melodies as written / recorded by Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935). They are mostly songs taken from life and with a slightly melancholic character. The songs are about the different seasons, settling disputes, encouragement to dance and everyday activities such as visiting a market.

A special role is reserved for the Saz and the Duduk, two typical folk music instruments from Turkey and Armenia. The combination with Western wind instruments gives the work a special color and atmosphere, with the last movement having a rousing character.

Little Folksong Rhapsody was commissioned by wind ensemble Zuiderwind.

De Aaj Vaan / The Old Banner
Music for Fanfare Band,

De Aaj Vaan / The Old Banner

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade4
Duration4 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download

… is a concert march for fanfare band was commissioned by Fanfare Sint Cecilia Herten (NL) on the occasion of their 125th anniversary.

This concert march exudes solemnity with her lyrical and colorful passages, including a festive ending. I was inspired by the original banner of the jubilee fanfare band.

A concert march that connects old traditions with new musical initiatives.

Score and complete set of parts are not available before May 2023!