…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.
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
A song for soprano and orchestra freely after the poem by Christina Rosetti:
Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.
But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.
Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.
Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.
Live Performance registration by “Royal wind band “de Kunstvrienden’ of St. Niklaas (B) – Peter Snellinckx, conductor – Eline Van den Broeck, solo horn
Concerto for Horn and Wind band.
In the Chinese mythology there are four heavenly animals.
The Chinese Dragon
The Phoenix
The Turtle
Ki-Lin (unicorn)
In this concerto for horn all of these heavenly animals are presented. The hornist is a kind of storyteller and evaluates to a mythical creature as well. The concerto contains four movements:
1. The Chinese Dragon – (Long)
The Chinese dragon is one of the four heavenly animals and would also be the founder of the Imperial Family.
Dragon Queens provides rain, rivers, lakes and seas. They represent wisdom, strength and goodness. An angry Long Wang causes storm, fog and earthquakes. He protects fishermen and watercourse, but punishes wasters of water. One of them is Pan Long, it lives in the ocean. It seems to be the seahorse we all know today.
2. The Phoenix – (Feng Huang)
His song would be the source of the Chinese scale. Feng Huang lives with Ki-Lin (see also 4th movement) in the Hills of Vermilion. Only in peaceful times, or when a great wise or good emperor is born, the Feng Huang leaves the Land of Immortals to announce prosperity, accompanied by many other birds who honour him as the most beautiful.
3. The Turtle – (Wugui)
The Turtle is one of the animals who was involved in the origin of the earth. It is seen as an oracle.
4. The Unicorn – (Ki Lin)
The unicorn is an animal with male (Ki) and female (Lin) powers. It’s voice is like a church bell. It was born in the heart of the earth and lives behind the clouds. It appears only to announce important events or births. (Just like Feng Huang (2nd movement)).
This work was commissioned by “Limburgse Werkgevers Vereniging” (NL) as a tribute to their retiring president Mr. Wim Weijnen, and is freely inspired by the first sentence of the Hebrew Slave Choir from „Nabucco“ by Giuseppe Verdi:
„Va, Pensiero, sull’ali dorate, va, ti posa sui clivi, sui colli“
„Go, thought, on wings of gold, go settle upon the slopes and the hills“
Also available for soprano saxophone solo and wind band.
Demo Recording: (Live recording during world first performance, performed by the wonderful violist Lei Wang, (concertmaster of the Philharmonie Zuid-Nederland) and Koninklijke Harmonie Sainte Cécile Eijsden conducted by Jan Cober)
Little Folksong Rhapsody / Digital Set€ 30,00 incl. VAT
