Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. This piece was commissioned by the ‘Concert Band Vlamertinge’ and is a plea for peace: the title translates as ‘Peace on Earth’. This is expressed by means of the vocal contribution expected from the performers. In various places of the piece you can recognize, the words ‘Et In Terra Pax’ - an appeal for peace - at first jumbled together but later more rhythmically structured, developing into synchronized massed voices. The work starts with a pentatonic theme based on the notes D, E, G, A and C (taken from ‘ConCErtbAnD VlAmErtinGE’ and the name of the conductor, NiCk VAnDEnDriessChe). A somewhat sad melody is developed during an orchestral climax which leads to the firstexplosion of sound (measure 62 onwards). Suddenly the opening measures are recaptured, albeit with a differently colored sound: the words ‘Et In Terra Pax’ bring the first movement to a close. A restless Allegro follows which abruptly stops and is replaced by a calming cho-rale-like passage. A narrator reads aloud the poem ‘Sonnet’ by the young poet Charles Hamilton Sorley, who was killed during World War I. This poem fittingly puts into words the cruelty and senselessness of war. After the expanded recapitulation of the allegro, the broad, almost infinite atmosphere of the beginning returns. Clarinet and English horn play the pentatonic opening theme once more, this time broadly, while the words ‘Et In Terra. . . Pax’ are repeated again and again by the rest of the orchestra. The composer has purposely avoided all forms of aggression and bombastic sounds regularly used in works about war. Fear of violence and destruction can be heard and felt during the allegro passages. The charged opening makes way in the end for hope: May peacefulness replace cruelty in everyday life, too. / Niveau : 4 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. Spartacus is a 'Symphonic Tone Poem' with 3 joints. Each section has its own melodical materials, however: in the final movement the main theme from the second section returns in a 'grandioso'-tutti. The last bar but one recaptures the 'oriental' atmosphere of the very beginning. The first section (= from the beginning till J) builds up a climax by repeating and accumulating some melodical and rhythmical stuctures. The oriental character of the melodical fragments refers to the origin of the Roman slaves. The second section evokes the love between Spartacus and his loveby giving a peaceful atmosphere. The mean theme (presented the first time at letter L) has a broad andwide character and refers slightly to filmmusic. In this part of the composition, a special attention is given to the orchestration. The final section is more agressive and martial and refers to the revolt of the slaves against the Roman oppressors. In the middle of this movement, an accumulation of the 12 tones symbolizes the crucifixion of the slaves: the english horn resumes partly the cadenza of the flute (at letter J), as if he wants to show again the eternal love between Spartacus and his love a very last time . . . The theme at the third bar of letter T is actually based on the 2nd theme of this section (which starts at the fifth bar of letter R), but has been worked out rhytmically. / Niveau : 6 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

for Wind Orchestra, Full Score. Par CESARINI FRANCO. Fascinated by the beauty of Chicago, Franco Cesarini has translated his emotions into music: this is how Symphony No. 3 “Urban Landscapes” Op. 55, was born, a musical portrait of this metropolis overlooking Lake Michigan. The composition is divided into three movements: The Wrigley Building from Dawn to Noon, Blue Silhouette and Cloud Gates, which by sharing the same thematic material arranged in cyclical form, strengthen the overall cohesion of the piece. The first movement, preceded by a short slow introduction in which the main theme is presented in an almost dreamlike form, metaphorically represents the city at dawn. The sudden change of time symbolizes the start of activities with all its noises and sounds: you can hear the bell that announces the closing of the subway doors, the sound of cars speeding by, the siren of a patrol car. If the first movement represents the day, the second introduces a nocturnal environment: a melancholic melody played by the English horn anticipates a more animated tempo depicting melodies coming from jazz clubs. Powerful fanfares that take up the second theme of the first movement introduce the third movement. In this finale, the role of the two themes is reversed compared to the first movement and one takes the place of the other in a kind of games of mirrors. Symphony No. 3 “Urban Landscapes” Op. 55: a sumptuous musical portrait of the “Windy City”./ Répertoire / Concert Band/Harmonie

for Wind Orchestra, World Set (no ESS). Par CESARINI FRANCO. Fascinated by the beauty of Chicago, Franco Cesarini has translated his emotions into music: this is how Symphony No. 3 “Urban Landscapes” Op. 55, was born, a musical portrait of this metropolis overlooking Lake Michigan. The composition is divided into three movements: The Wrigley Building from Dawn to Noon, Blue Silhouette and Cloud Gates, which by sharing the same thematic material arranged in cyclical form, strengthen the overall cohesion of the piece. The first movement, preceded by a short slow introduction in which the main theme is presented in an almost dreamlike form, metaphorically represents the city at dawn. The sudden change of time symbolizes the start of activities with all its noises and sounds: you can hear the bell that announces the closing of the subway doors, the sound of cars speeding by, the siren of a patrol car. If the first movement represents the day, the second introduces a nocturnal environment: a melancholic melody played by the English horn anticipates a more animated tempo depicting melodies coming from jazz clubs. Powerful fanfares that take up the second theme of the first movement introduce the third movement. In this finale, the role of the two themes is reversed compared to the first movement and one takes the place of the other in a kind of games of mirrors. Symphony No. 3 “Urban Landscapes” Op. 55: a sumptuous musical portrait of the “Windy City”./ Répertoire / Concert Band