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)
…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.
Set of score and parts are not available before Fall 2021.
Demo of the world-first performance by “Koninklijke Oude Harmonie” Eijsden (NL) Jacques Claessens, conductor – Pascal Pittie, tenor
Remount is based on the eponymous story of James D. Newton, about the impressive experiences as a soldier during Word War 2.
Remount is an old cavalry term. The noun describes a “fresh horse”. The intransitive verb means “to mount again”. And mount again is the story as recalled by James D. Newton after all these years.
This work was commissioned by “Koninklijke Oude Harmonie van Eijsden (NL)” – for celebrating 75 years of liberation after World War 2 and it is dedicated to the heroes who liberated us.
The work consists of five parts:
Yesterday, 1944 – ‘Move out!’
Die graue Tagen und lange Nachten – Fall Campaign
The Bulge – ‘Remount’
Fiddlers’ Green – the cavalry poem
The day after yesterday, 1945 – ‘Dismount’ – Liberty
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.
„Festmusik des LBO“ is a festive overture in which the new logo of the „LandesBlasOrchester Baden-Württemberg“ is explained in musical way in three parts without intermission.
The overture starts as a surprise, just walking into the beautiful land of Baden-Württemberg, a partial republic of Germany. „Movement and Rhythm“
The main theme a proud, passioned theme – its all about the people working at LBO – starts and flows into the second theme based on the typical opening of the song „Loblied der Badener“. The use of many different pitches and scales are a metaphor for „Highs and Lows“.
After this another folksong of Baden-Württemberg is integrated, the more lyric „Hohenzollernlied“. The use of both of these folk-themes are standing for „Name, Values and Home“.
In the second part both folksongs are used in the thematic material. In this part the music is build up into a passioned and majestic climax. All the „Emotions and Passion“ reach their maximum of musical perception.
In the third part all thematic material is re-used in a fugatic way finding their way, everything combining, into a virtuous coda – just as the new logo is doing into one picture.
Of course the title of the overture is referring to the jubilee of 40 years of this great orchestra: „LandesBlasOrchester Baden-Württemberg“
This piece was the winning composition of the composition contest “Logo in Sound” as held by the “LandesBlasorchester Baden-Württemberg” (2018)
… is freely inspired by the four paintings with the same title by Claude-Joseph Vernet. He was was considered the leading French artist of his time in his genre, marine art and landscape painting.
The four times of the day are all signed and dated 1750 and they belong to the Musee de la Marine Palais de Chaillot, Paris.
The first depiction is entitled Morning. The painting shows a misty morning scene with fishermen with his boat. The second painting, entitled Midday depicts a sudden, unexpected storm. The painting Evening shows women bathing and washing their clothes. The final scene shows a rocky inlet, with fishermen drying their nets while others are gathered round a fire.
The scenes depicted in these four paintings were Vernet’s favourite scenes that he painted in different settings throughout his career. The music simply follows the scenes in a illustrative way with a special attention for the beautiful details of this paintings.
“Il Giubileo d’ Argento” (the silvern jubilee) was commissioned by “Fanfare St. Willibrordus Stramproy” on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their conductor René Schrader.
With this overture, in three consecutive parts, the musical well-being of Fanfare St. Willibrordus is illustrated.
The first part has the Spanish influences, referring to the trip to Valencia, which is a clear highlight in the history of the fanfare band. The second part is a kind of melancholic look back, with some funny elements in it, to accentuate conductor René Schrader. And the third part is with the fugatic structure a kind of looking back at the many rehearsals that have also led to the various highlights.
Publisher: Janssen Music
Full Recording: Recorded (during rehearsal) by Fanfare St. Willibrordus Stramproy, conducted by Bart Partouns
75 Jaor Vreej / Wind Band / Digital Set€164,00 incl. VAT
