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

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,

Ein Winzer Spiel

InstrumentationWind Band
Grade4
Duration12 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download
Ein Winzer Spiel (Full Midi)

“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

Remount
Music for Voices, Music for Wind Band,

Remount

InstrumentationWind Orchestra & Tenor Voice
Grade6
Duration15 minutes
PublisherJanssen Music
Demo Score→ Download
Remount (Full Midi)

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:

  1. Yesterday, 1944 – ‘Move out!’
  2. Die graue Tagen und lange Nachten – Fall Campaign
  3. The Bulge – ‘Remount’
  4. Fiddlers’ Green – the cavalry poem
  5. The day after yesterday, 1945 – ‘Dismount’ – Liberty

→ Fiddlers’ Green (part 4) 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.

Highlights from the world premiere by “Koninklijke Oude Harmonie” Eijsden (NL)
Jacques Claessens, conductor – Pascal Pittie, tenor
Festmusik des LBO
Music for Wind Band,

Festmusik des LBO

40 Jahre Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg

Live Recording World First Performance

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. Standing for 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 (LBO).

This piece was the winning composition of the composition contest Logo in Sound as held by the Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg (2018)

Publisher: Janssen Music

Demoscore:

Festmusik des LBO – DEMODownload

Four Times of the Day
Music for Ensemble,

Four Times of the Day

… 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.

For Double Wind Quintet.

Publisher: Janssen Music

Demo Score:

Four Times of the Day – DEMO ScoreDownload