The Piet Hein Rhapsodie was originally written by Peter van Anrooij for Symphonic Orchestra. This rhapsody is based on a well known Dutch song about the conquest of the Silverfleet.
This arrangement is written for wind quintet and was commissioned by NJON (National Youth Orchestra Netherlands).
Publisher: Janssen Music
| Instrumentation | Fanfare Band |
| Grade | 5-6 |
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| Publisher | Janssen Music |
| Demo Score | → Download |
Skines was commissioned by “Fanfare St. Caecilia Schinnen” (NL).
Skines is an old name for the village and the landscape around the Limburg village of Schinnen. It means to shine or glare.
In three merging parts, the musical story is told of a kestrel that, while praying (looking for prey), absorbs, undergoes, adapts and (triumphantly) survives all the appearances or brilliance (in both positive and negative sense) within the landscape.
The apparitions are a metaphor for elements, influences and/or sounds (without a concrete name) within the regions, which can be seen from the air and which have a major influence on the flora and fauna, as well as the people in the Limburg landscape.
The second part describes the kestrel (sung the soprano voice) the feeling these apparitions evoke in him. The text is a free translation (in German) of a short poem from “The Chinese Flute” by the Chinese writer Li-Tai-Po (701-762);
In dem Fremde
In fremdem Lande lag ich.
Weißen Glanz malte der Mond
vor meine Lagerstätte.Ich hob das Haupt, Ich meinte erst,
es sei der Reif der Frühe,
was ich schimmern sah,
dann aber wußte ich:
der Mond, der Mond,
und neigte das Gesicht zur Erde hin.
Und meine Heimat winkte mir von fern.
| Instrumentation | Wind Orchestra & Tenor Voice |
| Grade | 5½ |
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| Publisher | Janssen Music |
| Demo Score | → Download |
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:
→ 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.
