Gulliver's Travels (Les Voyages de Gulliver 1726) de l?écrivain irlandais d?origine anglaise Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) est un roman satirique qui raconte les quatre voyages de Lemuel Gulliver chirurgien à bord d?un navire. Le génie imaginatif la finesse d?esprit et la prose simple qui caractérisent les explorations fantaisistes de ces mondes imaginaires ont fasciné des générations de lecteurs. Bert Appermont a réalisé une œuvre en quatre tableaux hauts en couleurs à l?image des récits de Swift.1. Lilliput : Après un naufrage Gulliver se retrouve sur l?île de Lilliput dont les habitants les Lilliputiens ne mesurent qu?environ six pouces de haut.Peuple vif et énergique les Lilliputiens sont symbolisés par un thème enjoué. Les couleurs pétillent? / 2. Brobdingnag : Au pays de Brobdingnag Gulliver est enlevé par des géants. La ligne mélodique revient à plusieurs reprises. L?accélération du tempo intensifie la trame dramatique de ce second mouvement. / 3. Laputa : Laputa est une île volante habitée par d?étranges personnages qui penchent la tête tantôt à droite tantôt à gauche : ils ont un œil tourné en dedans et l'autre vers le ciel. La musique évolue dans un décor chimérique. / 4. Au pays des Houyhnhnms : Au cours de son dernier voyage Gulliver arrive chez les Houyhnhnms des chevaux intelligents et profondément sages qui règnent sur les Yahoos créatures dégénérées de type humain. L?ouverture puissante (trompettes) illustre les chevaux au galop ; le thème solennel qui suit (cors et trombones) symbolise les primitifs et sauvages Yahoos. Le mouvement s?achève sur un finale grandiose.

Composed during the summer of 1988. Commissioned by The Norwegian Brass Band Club First performed in the Grieg Hall¬? at the 10th Anniversary Concert for the Norwegian Championship Bergen February 1989. EBML conducted by Michael Antrobus. The work is important for me because it was my first piece to be played outside Norway. Black Dyke/David King performed it and did a recording of it in 1991. The composer: In the original score I quote a Swedish bishop (Olaus Mangnus) who lived in the 15th century. He travelled around Scandinavia and drew maps - very important historic material. When he came to the north of Norway (where I come from) hedescribed the wind from the north as Ciricus: (something like) Worst of all winds is Circius that revolves(?= turn upside down) heaven and earth. (Well not a good translation I¬?m afraid). The fast sections reflects the mighty winds from the north. In the middle section I borrowed a folksong-like tune (by C. Elling a norwegian composer). The text (by Kristoffer Janson) tells about old times when the fishermen used open boats: they had to put their lives in the hands of God. De opening en het slot van dit werk beschrijven 'Circius' de wind die hemel en aarde verwoest. Het middendeel is een bewerking van het Noorse volkslied 'The fisherman's speech to his son'. De inhoud van het lied komt overeen met Circius. De vader verzoekt zijn zoon de krachten van de natuur te trotseren maar bovenal te respecteren. Een kort doch spectaculair concertwerk dat het gehele orkest in de greep heeft.

During the eighteenth century a person called 'the Dance Master' made his appearance in Ireland. He was a travelling dance-teacher who moved from one village to another to teach the people there how to dance. They were often flamboyant personalities gorgeously dressed and holding a staff in one hand. In order to teach their pupils the difference between their right and left leg the dance master used to tie a small bunch of straw or hay to their leg and then would order them to either lift their 'hay-leg' or their 'straw-leg'. The dancing masters used to stay in one particular village for about six weeks (if they were not claimed by a neighbouringvillage) after which they continued their journey. Having a famous dance master gave a village a certain distinction and did not seldom lead to boasting and pride. Also on account of the popularity of Celtic music in general at the moment William Vean was inspired to writing 'The Irish Dance Master'. He 'teaches' you two dances the Reel and the Jig. In between these two dances there is a short breathing space during which a traditional Irish rhythm can be enjoyed.

A Tribute to Jules Verne (1828-1905)-Three Extraordinary Journeys was commissioned to mark the centenary of the death of the famous author Jules Verne. Based on three novels from his Voyages Extraordinaires series of travel stories the music aims to capture the excitement and adventure of these famous books. A fantastic new major concert or contest piece.

During the eighteenth century a person called 'the Dance Master' made his appearance in Ireland. He was a travelling dance-teacher who moved from one village to another to teach the people there how to dance. They were often flamboyant personalities gorgeously dressed and holding a staff in one hand. In order to teach their pupils the difference between their right and left leg the dance master used to tie a small bunch of straw or hay to their leg and then would order them to either lift their 'hay-leg' or their 'straw-leg'. The dancing masters used to stay in one particular village for about six weeks (if they were not claimed by a neighbouringvillage) after which they continued their journey. Having a famous dance master gave a village a certain distinction and did not seldom lead to boasting and pride. Also on account of the popularity of Celtic music in general at the moment William Vean was inspired to writing 'The Irish Dance Master'. He 'teaches' you two dances the Reel and the Jig. In between these two dances there is a short breathing space during which a traditional Irish rhythm can be enjoyed.

The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe-The Disney hit movie The Chronicles of Narnia tells the story of four children who travel through a magical wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a talking lion. Much of the fantastic mystical atmosphere of the movie comes from Harry Gregson-Williams fantastic soundtrack. This medley features the highlights of the original soundtrack and it is sure to be a magical success in any concert.