Carl Wittrock's wide interest in global folk-music resulted in this concert-piece based on original African rhythms. Obviously the percussion section has a conspicious role to play but the band too may indulge itself in moments of thoroughly delightful excitement. The introduction depicts the awakening of nature and develops into a dance. The (main) motif of this dance is from a dance entitled Apollo and comes from Gambia. Its accompaniment consists of an ostinato pattern by balaphon-master Maudo Susa. The quiet middle movement is based on the rhythm of the 'gigbo' : a traditional dance from Ghana. In the final movement -which also bears a slight resemblanceto a theme from 'The Lion King'- the so-called 'Kono' rhythm is used. The work is played most advantageously using djembes. Challenge and please your percussion section with 'The African Connection'. Carl Wittrock's brede interesse voor de wereldmuziek resulteerde in dit op originele Afrikaanse ritmes gebaseerde concertwerk. Het slagwerk speelt uiteraard een opvallende rol maar ook het orkest kan zich op een heerlijke manier uitleven. De inleiding schildert het ontwaken van de natuur welke overgaat in een dans. Het motief van deze dans (Apollo) is afkomstig uit Gambia. De begeleiding bestaat uit een ostinaatpatroon van de balafon-meester Maudo Susa. De basis van het rustige middendeel is gelegen in het ritme van de Gigbo een traditionele dans uit Ghana. Het laatste deel (met enige gelijkenis met The Lion King) maakt gebruik van het zogenaamde Kono ritme. Het werk komt het best tot zijn recht als er gebruik wordt gemaakt van djembes.Daag uw percussie sectie uit en doe ze een groot plezier met: The African Connection!

Colour and versatility is the key to this composition in three movements by Carl Wittrock. The Tournament is the most versatile piece of music you could wish for. Movement 1 (March) is an excellent lively concert opener. The 2nd movement (Ballad) is a calm interlude which provides much freedom for expression. Movement 3 (Dance) sweeps the piece along to the inevitable Grande Finale: a rousing melody with prominent rhythmic support.

Franeker (formerly known as Froonacker) is a bustling city situated in the north of The Netherlands. Carl Wittrock wrote this challenging march in honour of the anniversary of one of the music associations of this city. A true asset for the repertoire list of concert marches!

Carl Wittrock est né en 1966 à Goor (Pays-Bas). Sa carrière musicale a commencé à la musique de Goor où il a étudié le violon et la clarinette. Depuis 1984 il dirige des orchestres différents et il est également professeur de musique. Il composa sa première pièce en 1985. Depuis son talent n?a cessé de croître résolument tourné vers un sytle inspiré et novateur. Avec Praise to the Lord (Loué soit le Seigneur) Carl Wittrock signe une pièce émotionnelle dont la ligne mélodique et lumineuse accompagnera toutes vos cérémonies religieuses.

As he did before in the often played and commonly appreciated ‘Lord Tullamore’ in which he poetically depicted the landscape and the cultural elements of a small Irish village in his composition ‘The Road to the West’ Carl Wittrock has sketched pioneer existence in America in a cinematic manner.In ‘The Road to the West’ the composer has tried to capture images of pioneer life during the period dating from 1850 to 1890 the days of the so-called Wild West.In those days the Wild West used to be the territory west of civilization the domain of cowboys trappers and other fortune hunters. In short ample ingredients for a captivating story.In the firstscene a lonely adventurer struggles against nature and the elements. After an exciting adventure he passes through ‘the Plains’ where majestic views alternated by colossal mountain ranges display an almost unimaginable beauty.After weeks of isolation civilization is reached again. ‘The Saloon’ is the perfect meeting place – here news is exchanged and hilarious scenes regularly take place.

As he did before in the often played and commonly appreciated ‘Lord Tullamore’ in which he poetically depicted the landscape and the cultural elements of a small Irish village in his composition ‘The Road to the West’ Carl Wittrock has sketched pioneer existence in America in a cinematic manner.In ‘The Road to the West’ the composer has tried to capture images of pioneer life during the period dating from 1850 to 1890 the days of the so-called Wild West.In those days the Wild West used to be the territory west of civilization the domain of cowboys trappers and other fortune hunters. In short ample ingredients for a captivating story.In the firstscene a lonely adventurer struggles against nature and the elements. After an exciting adventure he passes through ‘the Plains’ where majestic views alternated by colossal mountain ranges display an almost unimaginable beauty.After weeks of isolation civilization is reached again. ‘The Saloon’ is the perfect meeting place – here news is exchanged and hilarious scenes regularly take place.

Carl Wittrock a été inspiré par les énormes champs de glace qui entourent le Pôle Sud. Les sons colorés et majestueux de cette composition donnent une vue fluide et fascinante de ce « 6e continent ». Les mélodies libres d?Antartica sontreliées entre elles par un accompagnement harmonieux et simple rendant cette ?uvre agréable pour l?auditeur et les musiciens.

The word ‘tsunami’ is of Japanese origin. When you look it up in a dictionary you will find that it means ‘a great sea wave produced by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption’. A megatsunami is the superlative of this awesome expressionof power that nature can create and has catastrophic consequences. When Carl Wittrock completed this composition not many such big earth movements had occurred but since then we have become all too familiar with the disastrousconsequences which a tsunami may have. On the 26th of December 2004 a heavy seaquake took place near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tidal waves 10 meters in height ravaged the coastal regions of many countries for miles around. The tsunamitook the lives of thousands of people and destroyed many villages and towns. There are more areas which run the risk of being struck by a tsunami such as the island of La Palma one of the Canary Islands. This island is based on oceaniccrust at a fracture zone and as such is one of nature’s time bombs. The consequences of a natural calamity like a megatsunami are immense. In the case of La Palma the tidal wave will move in the direction of South America where it may reach 50km inland destroying everything on its way. In his composition Wittrock describes an ordinary day which will have an unexpected ending. Right from the beginning there seems to be something in the air the music creating an oppressiveatmosphere of impending disaster. Themes are interrupted broken off suddenly followed by silence suggesting the calm before the storm. Suddenly a short climax (glissandi in the trombone part) indicates the seaquake and the megatsunami isa fact. Hereafter follows a turbulent passage symbolising the huge rolling waves. After nature’s force has spent itself resignation sets in and the composition ends with a majestic ode to nature.

Le Baron de Dedem était propriétaire d?une grande tourbière dans une province située au nord des Pays-Bas. En 1809 l?idée lui vint de construire un canal pour faciliter le transport de combustibles. Le canal fut nommé tel son propriétaire ainsi que le fleurissant village avoisinant. Alors que le canal était à l?apogée de son influence commerciale le Baron dut réduire son projet par manque de financement. Carl Wittrock signe avec passion une page musicale dans l?histoire de la province d?Overijssel.

Vroeger hebben in de omgeving van Augustinusga (deze streek heet in het Fries ¬?de Wâlden?) kloosters gestaan. Het waren veilige plekken in een ruige omgeving. In de boeken van Theun de Vries een bekende Friese schrijver komt naar voren dat de paden tussen de verschillende dorpen en gehuchten erg onveilig waren. Angst overheerste. Het was een ruw volk. bovendien heerste er veel armoede. Sfeer van angst en onrecht worden in deze compositie voelbaar vertolkt. De Slag om de brug bij Blauferlaet (2e wereldoorlog) speelt een belangrijke rol in Fjoer en Fidúsje. - Fjoer (vuur) geeft de gedrevenheid doorzettingsvermogen en sterke betrokkenheidvan de mensen aan om de armoede en het onrecht te bestrijden. - Fidúsje (vertrouwen) heeft de bevolking in ¬?de Wâlden¬? altijd gehad in zichzelf en velen ook in God. Het koraal tegen het einde in deze compositie geeft dit prachtig weer. Carl Wittrock schreef deze compositie ter gelegenheid van het 100-jarig bestaan van fanfare orkest ¬?De Bazuin¬? uit Augustinusga.