SKU: BT.GOB-000803-120

‘Panem et Circenses’, Bread and Games were essential for keeping the citizens of ancient Rome in check.
While the bread was meant for the poorest among the Romans, the Games were Popular Pastime Number One for everybody.
There were different kinds of games, such as chariot races (especially popular with female spectators), or wild-beast fights, where lions, tigers, bulls or bears were set on one another or even on human beings. Most popular, however, were the Gladiator fights.

In ‘Bread and Games’ William Vean depicts one of the many fights in the antique Colosseum.
1. Entrance of the Gladiators: By powerful bugle-calls the attention of the peoplewas asked for, after which the Gladiators entered the Arena at the sound of heroic marching-music.
2.Swordfight: We can hear that the fights were not mere child’s play in this part.On the contrary, they were a matter of life and death and were fought accordingly.
3.Mercy of the Emperor: Sometimes a wounded gladiator could be fortunate, depending on the mercy of the audience. Waving one’s handkerchief meant mercy, a turned-down thumb meant no pardon. The Emperor had the right to take the final decision, but he usually complied with the wish of the majority of the public.
4.Lap of Honour: Gladiators were mainly selected among slaves, convicted criminals, or prisoners of war. Consequently, winning was very important, as it would mean fame, honour and sometimes even wealth. A lap of honour, therefore, was the winner’s due reward.

‘Panem et Circenses’, brood en (circus)spelen, essentieel in het Romeinse leven om de burgers in het gareel te houden.
Het brood was vooral voor de allerarmsten bedoeld, maar de spelen, dat was volksvermaak nummer één.
Erwaren verschillende soorten spelen, de Strijdwagen racen, vooral in trek bij de vrouwen, de dierengevechten of jachtpartijen, waar leeuwen, tijgers, buffels of beren tegen elkaar of tegen mensen opgehitst werden. Maar favoriet warentoch wel de gevechten der Gladiatoren.

William Vean beschrijft in ‘Bread and Games’ één van de vele gevechten in het aloude Colosseum.
1. Entrance of the Gladiators: Met krachtige (hoorn)signalen wordt de aandachtvan het volk gevraagd waarna de Gladiatoren op heldhaftige marsmuziek de Arena binnentreden.
2. Swordfight: Dat de gevechten geen kinderspel waren horen we in dit deel. Het gaat er hard aan toe, en de gevechten waren vaak op levenen dood.
3. Mercy of the Emperor: In enkele gevallen had een gewonde Gladiator geluk. Dit hing af van de stemming van het publiek. Wapperende zakdoeken betekende geluk, met de duim naar beneden wijzen betekende geen pardon.De Keizer had het laatste woord maar volgde meestal de stemming van het publiek.
4. Lap of Honour: Gladiatoren werden meestal uit slaven, veroordeelde misdadigers of krijgsgevangen geselecteerd. Winnen was daarom erg belangrijk.Dit betekende roem, eer en soms zelfs rijkdom. (vergelijkbaar met onze sporthelden) Een ereronde was dus wel op zijn plaats.

SKU: BT.DHP-1043648-020

Since his first successes in the 1990s the amiable popular singer Frans Bauer has grown into a megastar in the Netherlands. In Germany, too, he has a great number of fans. Although he is derided by many because of his schmalzy style, Frans Bauer sells CDs galore, attracts full houses everywhere and can be viewed in his own reality soap on television. In 2004 he was even awarded a Gouden Harp (Gold Harp), which is the most important prize within Dutch music. It is presented to artists and composers who have promoted Dutch light music in their own unique way during their career. The cheery singalong Heb je even voor mij (Got a Minute for Me) is a great top hit: a winner in everypub and at parties. This arrangement by Klaas van der Woude willput the musicians as well as the audience in a happy mood.

Seit seinen ersten Erfolgen in den 90er-Jahren des vergangenen Jahrhunderts hat der liebenswerte Schlagersänger Frans Bauer sich zu einem Megastar in den Niederlanden entwickelt. Auch in Deutschland hat er eine große Fangemeinde. Das fröhliche Mitsing-Lied Heb je even voor mij ist ein absoluter Top-Hit und unschlagbar auf jedem Fest. Diese Bearbeitung von Klaas van der Woude wird sowohl Musiker als auch das Publikum in Hochstimmung versetzen!