SKU: BT.DHP-1104883-010

9x12 inches.

The twofold title of this concert work is directly connected with the band who commissioned it. The â??Harmonie Municipale Grevenmacherâ?? from the town of the same name, by the river Moselle in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was founded in the year1834. The name Machera is derived from the word machara, which in turn originated from maceries (old wall). Later, Machera evolved into Machern, Grafenmachern, and finally Grevenmacher.In 2009, this music society the third oldest still in existence in the country celebrated its 175th anniversary. And after all these years the society still flourishes! The dynamic committee, led by Georges May, fully supports and inspires themusical leader of the band, Claude Weiland, as well as his 60-strong ensemble. This well-functioning team took the initiative to ask Jan Van der Roost to write an anniversary composition, inspired, on the one hand, by the rural character ofGrevenmacher and its surroundings (where the famous Moselle wine growing dominates the countryside), and on the other hand, by the dynamics, creativity and joie de vivre the band exudes. All of this resulted in a twofold work with alternating peaceand excitement, virtuous and melodic features, orchestral splendour and soberly orchestrated passages. The première, on 10 January 2010, was conducted by the composer himself at a successful gala concert which brought a fine year full of musicalfestivities to a close. The â??Harmonie Municipale Grevenmacherâ?? faces the future with confidence, and will now prepare for its next milestone: the 200th anniversary!

1834 - Machara Impressions was a commission for the 175th anniversary of the band Harmonie Municipale Grevenmacher from the town of Grevenmacher - formerly Machara - in Luxemburg. It is a work of many contrasts with alternating peace and excitement, virtuous and melodic features, orchestral splendour and soberly orchestrated passages - reflecting the peaceful and turbulent history of the band.

Das zweiteilige Auftragswerk zum 175-jährigen Jubiläum der Harmonie Municipale Grevenmacher aus dem Dorf Grevenmacher - historisch Machara - in Luxemburg ist von Dynamik, Kreativität und Lebensfreude des Blasorchesters inspiriert. Friedliche und aufregende Zeiten spiegeln sich wechselweise in virtuosen und melodischen Eigenschaften, orchestraler Pracht und nu?chtern orchestrierten Passagen wider. Ein Thema fu?r jedes Blasorchester mit Tradition, umgesetzt in ein attraktives Werk von Jan Van der Roost.

Cette oeuvre au double titre souligne le dynamisme de la formation dédicataire, lâ??Harmonie Municipale de Grevenmacher, fondée en 1834, tout en rappelant lâ??histoire de la ville de Grevenmacher (ancienn. Machera), située au bord de la Moselle luxembourgeoise. La toile alterne entre passages calmes et passages fougueux, composantes virtuoses et composantes mélodiques, splendeur orchestrale et sobriété de lâ??orchestration.

Questo brano sottolinea ed elogia il dinamismo della Banda Municipale di Grevenmacher, fondata nel 1834, ricordando allo stesso tempo la storia di questa cittadina, situata in riva alla Mosella lussemburghese, il cui nome era nellâ??antichit Machera. Passaggi calmi si alternano armoniosamente a passaggi più vivaci, elementi virtuosi si mischiano a tratti melodici, mentre sul tutto aleggia uno splendore e una sobriet orchestrale fuori dal comune.

SKU: HL.4008004

How often has something been justified by, declared to be, or blessed as “in the name of” some cause or other? How can it be that opposing armies and the use of weapons are ever “in the name of”...? This is a common thread in the history of different faiths. Good was created but evil was committed and all “in the name of...” This thread is also found in the history of the Premonstratensian Abbey at Wadgassen. The abbey was built in the 12th century on unfertile, desolate moorland, which later evolved into the most powerful religious community in the Saarland. The history of the abbey records quite astounding achievements under the motto desertum florebit quasi lilium (“the desert will bloom like a lily”); but also the harsh treatment of delinquents. The order had its own school, in which children were taught the seven liberal arts (which included music as well as geography and astronomy), but the poor were left to starve outside the abbey walls and were only allowed to eat from the members' on feast days. The medieval witch trials demanded their pound of flesh, and one group that fell victim were ecstatic dancers who moved wildly to music--which was interpreted as the devil's work. The result: a show trial that sentenced the dancers to death by fire. All in the name of... The year is 1789: Abbot Bordier is in the tenth year of his command. He does not yet know that he is to be the last abbot of an almost 700-year-tradition. Not far from the abbey is the French border, which has long been making itself felt with the sound of gunfire, and the brothers continue to keep a nervous eye on it. The first portents of the French Revolution loom, but no one wants to believe it--that is, until the French pound the door down, storm the abbey and come right into the brothers' chambers. In a blind fury, all the pipes of the abbey organ are torn out, icons beheaded with swords and brothers beaten death while numerous buildings are set on fire. The abbey church is in flames. A frantic and desperate escape begins. Abbot Bordier and a handful of brothers make their getaway via the River Saar, adjacent to the abbey, to the neighbouring village of Bous. They survive, but their life--the Premonstratensian abbey--is destroyed. While they flee towards Prague and the sanctuary of the Strahov Monastery, the abbey at Wadgassen is razed to the ground and becomes a stone quarry. The desert blooms once more, however. A few short decades later, a glasswork arises from the foundations of the abbey. As peace returns to the region, it brings jobs and a new vision for its people.