Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. ‘Toccata Festiva’ was commissioned in 1994 by the Dutch Brass Band Championships. The wind band version was made a year later by the composer himself. Historically speaking, the toccata is considered to be one of the first independent instrumental forms for keyboard instruments. Originally the toccata was typically more or less improvised, later this musical form was given a more regulated structure. Both elements are used in the ‘Toccata Festiva’: on the one hand the different themes are developed freely, on the other, the piece has an orderly structure. It is in a three part form (quick-slow-quick) and includes both strong rhythmical figures and broad melodic lines. Partof the composition is written in a more or less archaic tone idiom, referring to the period from which the toccata form originates (16th century). / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par DE HAAN JACOB. This musical fantasy depicts the history of the Dutch fortified town of Elburg. The work begins with an atmospheric medieval picture of the Convent of St Agnes, the nunnery that was built in the first half of the 15th century. We hear the sound of the convent bells together with an upward motif, which will reappear later in the work. Next, the rest of Elburg is featured, including the fortress - from which the bells of the Sint-Nicolaaskerk (Saint Nicholas Church) are ringing. Then, cheerful sounds can be heard at the Vischpoort (Fish Gate), where a dancing group is performing a 16th century French folk dance (a branle des chevaux). We also hear old wagons rumbling over the town’scobble stones. Trade made this Hanseatic town a lively place. The repetitive upward motif first heard in the introduction now develops into a more distinct feature, reflecting the mercantile spirit of the town residents. Then follows the slow middle movement, in which the clock has been turned back to the time when Elburg was still lying on the Zuiderzee (which was a bay of the North Sea), and was struggling with floods. After the second St. Marcellus Flood (1362) and the water flood of 1367 it was decided that the town would be relocated. We now hear the theme of branle des chevaux in a minor key, followed by a death bell sounding in remembrance of the drowned citizens of the former town. Back in our own time, a slow, expressive theme in Baroque style mirrors Elburg’s tranquil places, such as the Feithenhof (Feithen Court) and the Weduwenhofje (Widow Court). Then the bustle returns with motifs from the introduction, followed by an attractive theme in which present-day Elburg is portrayed with its many tourists. Now, suddenly, there is an echo from the past, depicting the dramatic floods and wars that once plagued the town. This leads to the grand closing theme: branle des chevaux is heard for a final time from the perspective of the historic town centre. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This major concert work cosists o five movements. 1st movement: La Laguna del ShimbeSituated high up in the Andes mountains in Northern Peru are the Huaringas, a group of lagoons in isolated and mysterious surroundings. The water has healing powersand for centuries traditional healers have settled there in small villages. From far the sick come to the Huaringas to be treated in nightly rituals, in which the hallucinating juice of the San Pedro cactus gives the prophet a look inside hispatient. The biggest lagoon is the “Laguna del Shimbe”, one of the countless wells of the immense Amazon stream. 2nd movement: Los AguarunasFurther downstream in Northern Peru we come across the rain tribe of Los Aguarunas. It’s a proud, beautiful andindependent race, which has never succumbed to domination, not even from the Incas. They live from everything the forest has to offer: fish, fruit, plants, . . . . They also grow some crops and live as semi-nomads. They take their fate into their ownhands and after having made contact with modern civilisation, they have integrated new elements into their lives without betraying their own ways. 3rd movement: MekaronMekaron is an Indian word meaning “picture”, “soul”, “essence”. The Indians are theorigina inhabitants of the Amazon region. They either live in one place as a group or move around a large region. They all have their own political system, their own language and an intense social life. At the same time they are master of music andmedicine. “Everywhere the white man goes, he leaves a wilderness behind him”, wrote the North American Indian leader Seatl in 1885. As a result of these contacts with the whites, the disruption of most Indian societies began. (In this century alone, 80 tribes have vanished completely). 4th movement: KêêtuajêThis is the name of the initiating ceremony of the Krahô tribe in the Brazilian state of Goias, in which young boys and girls enter adult life. They are cleansed with water, painted with redpaint and covered with feathers, after which the ritual dance holds the entire tribe spell-bound. 5th movement: Paulino FaiakanIn 1988 the Indian chiefs Faiakan and Raoni Kaiapo came to Europe to protest against the building of the Altamira dam inBrazil. As a result of the dam the Indians would be driven from their traditional land and enormous artificial would be created. The project was supported financially by, amongst others, the European Community. In February 1989 the Indian tribesaround Altamira held a protest march for the first time in their history together. Amongst other things they paid tribute tot Chico Mendez, who, murdered in 1988, was the leader of the rubber syndicate and a fierce opponent of the destruction of theBrazilian rain forest. Brazilian and world opinion was awakened. The building of the dam was -albeit temporarily - stopped. / Niveau : 6 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Arr. Philip Sparke. Par BYRD WILLIAM. The Battell was written during the late 14th Century when England was in a mood of national celebration after victory over the Spanish and French Armadas. The movement which Byrd called Marche Before The Battell became known as The Earl of Oxford?s Marchand it appears with that title in an early manuscript copy of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. Written while Byrd was at the height of his powers, it still stirs the soul to this day. A perfect opener for your concert performances. / Niveau : 4 / Transcription / Répertoire / Fanfare

Quelle est cette odeur agreable. ‘Whence is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?’ is the first line of an old French Christmas song that originated in the 17th century. In 1728 John Gay used this joyous and markedly festive melody that honours Jesus Christ and His miraculous birth in his Beggar’s Opera. Philip Sparke has given this melody a new lease of life with his charming and imaginative arrangement for the Christmas season. / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Introductie en variaties over het Dies Irae. Par DE HAAN JAN. De Ruigewaard is a large polder (reclaimed land protected by dykes) in the Dutch province of Groningen. Shortly after the land was reclaimed around 1500, a settlement was established at the location of the current village of Grijpskerk. This was the source of inspiration for this concert work, together with a 13th-century Gregorian theme - the Dies Irae - which is used as a leitmotiv. After the introduction follow five variations, in randon order - however, each one of them carries us back to a striking moment in the history of Grijpskerk, home of the Excelsior Christian Music Association (CMV), who commissioned this work on the occasion of its participation in theWMC in Kerkrade (the Netherlands) in 2013. / Niveau : 4 / Pièce de concert / Date parution : 1905-07-05/ Répertoire / Fanfare

A Suite of Five Dances (early 16th Century). Par SUSATO TIELMAN. / Niveau : 4-5 / Répertoire / Fanfare

Les Anges dans nos campagnes. The title of this clever arrangement reveals the Christmas song it is based on. The melody can be traced back to a French folksong from the 18th century which is now known around the world. In France it is called Les anges dans nos campagnes, in Germany it is most widely known as Engel auf den Feldern singen and in England it was originally called Angels From the Realms of Glory but it often known as Angels We Have Heard on High. Everyone will rejoice upon hearing the ?Gloria in excelsis Deo? refrain! / Niveau : 3 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Fanfare

Meditation on 'Quem Pastores Laudavere'. Par TRADITIONAL. Carol of the Shepherds is based on the hymn tune 'Quem Pastores Laudavere' which dates back to the 14th century and is widely known throughout the Christian world. Although the melody has been set to a number of different texts in different countries it was originally a carol celebrating the Christmas story, in particular the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the shepherds. / Niveau : 3 / Musique pour célébration / Répertoire / Fanfare

Storm of the Century. Par SCHWARZ OTTO M.. Introduction De nombreuses personnes se souviennent parfaitement du 18 janvier 2007. Ce jour-là, les services météorologiques avaient lancé plusieurs?bulletins d?alerte annonçant l?arrivée imminente de « la tempête du siècle ». Une dépression frontale venue de Terre-Neuve allait toucher?l?Europe sous la forme de vents tempétueux particulièrement violents. Kyrill, la pire des tempêtes depuis des décennies, devait toucher terre?en Allemagne dans l?après-midi. De nombreuses écoles furent fermées et les services d?urgence placés en état d?alerte maximale. Malgré ces?précautions, les événements qui suivirent dépassèrent de loin les plus sombres prévisions. Il y eut des morts, des blessés et des dégâts énormes?dans toute l?Europe. La région du Sauerland en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie (Allemagne) fut particulièrement touchée par la tempête. Kyrill sema la désolation?sur son passage, laissant des dizaines de foyers sans toit et des forêts éventrées. La filière bois a vu les fruits de plusieurs décennies de travail?anéantis en quelques heures. Des arbres vigoureux furent déracinés comme de vulgaires fétus de paille. Des forêts en ruines Si les vents tempétueux de Kyrill s?abattirent sur toute l?Europe, ils dévastèrent la région allemande du Schmallenberger Sauerland comme nulle autre. Ce jour-là, Otto M. Schwarz était chez lui, en Autriche. Il assista au passage de la tempête, mais ne prit véritablement conscience de ses conséquences dramatiques qu?à son arrivée à Bad Fredeburg (Sauerland) où il participait à une conférence organisée par le?Volksmusikerbundes NRW (Association pour la promotion des musiques traditionnelles en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie). Ernst Willi?Schulte, le directeur de l?association, lui montra alors l?étendue des dégâts sur le paysage de la région du Schmallenberger Sauerland. Force lui était de constater que la tempête qui avait balayé son Autriche natale était sans commune mesure avec la violence supportée par cette région allemande touchée de plein fouet par Kyrill. / Date parution : 2022-07-23/ Répertoire / Fanfare