During the eighteenth century a person called 'the Dance Master' made his appearance in Ireland. He was a travelling dance-teacher who moved from one village to another to teach the people there how to dance. They were often flamboyant personalities gorgeously dressed and holding a staff in one hand. In order to teach their pupils the difference between their right and left leg the dance master used to tie a small bunch of straw or hay to their leg and then would order them to either lift their 'hay-leg' or their 'straw-leg'. The dancing masters used to stay in one particular village for about six weeks (if they were not claimed by a neighbouringvillage) after which they continued their journey. Having a famous dance master gave a village a certain distinction and did not seldom lead to boasting and pride. Also on account of the popularity of Celtic music in general at the moment William Vean was inspired to writing 'The Irish Dance Master'. He 'teaches' you two dances the Reel and the Jig. In between these two dances there is a short breathing space during which a traditional Irish rhythm can be enjoyed.

The composition ".The Fever Tree". in 2008 was commissioned by the Music Association of Central and Eastern Netherlands St.Willibrord as a gift to all its members on the occasion of the formation of a national music organization and the elimination of the music union for Central and Eastern Netherlands St.Willibrord. The fever tree is a controversial legend about St. Willibrord (658-739). The daughter of a pagan chieftain of Hoemannen that made the area around Heumen unsafe was seriously ill. They feared for her life. The chief of the gang turned to predatory Willibrord who same time in this region led mission. Willibrord commanded theman to repent and a headband of the girl to a certain special tree to hang. The desperate captain obeyed and his daughter was a miraculous heal. Then came the anger of the Hoemannen against their leader who in their eyes had committed treason by the group to convert. They abused themselves to him and killed him brutally. The daughter remained behind in great sorrow comforted by Willibrord. The composition has the following scenes: - Andante moderato - the calling of Willibrord - Allegro moderato - Willibrord passes through the province of Brabant and try to people to repent - Vivace - Hoemannen terrorize the inhabitants of the area Heumen - Andante - the healing of the sick girl and the conversion of the centurion - Inquieto - the revenge of the Hoemannen - Adagio - elegy on the death of the chief

Who knew that the rock group Queen could really swing? This energetic chart provides a wealth of opportunities for auxiliary groups and staging.

Bad Orb Impressions-Call of the Valley s?ouvre sur un tempo festif en forme de marche. Des sonorités majestueuses dessinent un concert de musique sacrée. Puis deux groupes instrumentaux quittent la scène et exécutent leurs parties à distance. Un groupe de saxophones interprète une valse un autre groupe réunissant cuivres et _x001D_flûtes joue une marche. À la fin de l?oeuvre l?orchestre reprend les thèmes des deux groupes tandis que ceux-ci reviennent vers la scène. Une fois arrivés ils restent face au public alors que résonne l?accord _x001C_final.

Call of the Clans (?L?appel des clans?) est un voyage musical à travers les Highlands (Hautes-Terres) d?Écosse une région de montagnes aux contours déchiquetés de collines verdoyantes de lacs aux eaux cristallines de châteaux en ruines et de villages pittoresques jadis organisés en clans. Chaque clan peut s?enorgueillir de posséder un patrimoine riche en traditions conquis et défendu par le fer et par le feu. C?est ainsi que les superbes Highlands devinrent le théâtre de nombreuses guerres et luttes entre clans.Call of the Clans de Kevin Houben est une confrontation musicale dans un style authentiquement écossais. Accompagnés d?une mélodie entraînante lesclans se préparent à défendre leurs traditions sous un ciel menaçant. Si les nuages gâchent un peu le début des festivités on voit progressivement apparaître quelques timides rayons de soleil qui réchauffent la terre ; les festivités reprennent. Chaque clan présente ses meilleurs danseurs et la compétition se termine avec un grand finale.

Scottish Dances is based on three Scottish traditionals: Cock of the North The Bonnie Bank's O'Loch Lomond and Marie's Wedding. I. Cock of the North's name is used for multiple things or events. For example for a locomotive to a famous it seems delicious liqueur and rallies to snowboard competitions. Furthermore is 'Cock O' the North ' a nickname of a famous Duke. (The 4th Duke of Gordon). In this composition Cock of the North (a Jig) is a traditional Scottish bagpipe tune regularly played on tattoos by Pipe Bands. Not infrequently the drummers sing the text. Auntie Mary had a canary Up the leg of her trousers While she was sleeping Iwas peeping Up the leg of her trousers. II. ' The Bonnie Bank's O'Loch Lomond ' is about a sad story that took place during an revolt against the British. In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie had to retreat. Two of his men were captured. One was convicted and executed while the other was released. The spirit of the executed soldier would arrive in Scotland via the 'low road' (underworld) before his companion who had still a long way to go. You'll take the high road And I'll take the low road And I'll be in Scotland afore ye But me and my true love will never meet again On the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond III. In a Scottish wedding after the official ceremonies there is often danced. This is called a ceilidh. For this we use traditional Scottish music such as 'Marie's Wedding '. Mid dance we go back to the church where a lovely song in honor of the couple sounds. Marie's Wedding has been recorded by Van Morrison (among many others). Step we gaely on we go heel for heel and toe for toe Arm and arm and on we go all for Marie's wedding

Centenary 2019 is a three-movement suite based on a local folksong and was commissioned by Chr. Fanfare De Lofstem, from the Dutch province of Friesland, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in 2019. ?Awakening Village?, the first movement, musically describes the waking up and coming to life of the village. ?Bintje Monument? was inspired by a famous sculpture that was placed to honour headmaster Kornelis Lieuwes de Vries (1854-1929) who developed the well-known potato variety called ?bintje?. The finale, ?Journey into the Unknown? refers to the band?s memorable 2011 concert trip to the United States of America, in which the composer combines elements of the folksong and fragments from ?The Star-Spangled Banner?. The piece consists of a wide range of playful and melodic sequences as well as some galvanizing rhythmical passages.

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!

The Battle on the Heath On 24 January 1597, the ?Tielenheide? - a stretch of moorland near the Belgian village of Tielen, south of Turnhout-was the scene of a great battle. Prince Maurice of Nassau, commander of the Dutch army, crushingly defeated Count Varax, a Burgundian general of the Spanish army. In military circles, the Battle of Turnhout caused quite a stir: a Spanish army of five thousand men was initially held up for hours through daring short moves by fifteen cavalrymen and a few hundred foot-soldiers -and subsequently, this Spanish army was overpowered by barely a thousand cavalrymen, without the help of the infantrymen. New weaponry proved its value that day. The Dutch cavalrymen were not armed with spears, as previously, but with long, carbine-like pistols . Before the pikemen of the Spanish army could stick their fearsome, six-metre-long spears into the ground to protect themselves against the onrushing horses, they were shot to pieces or knocked down. During the battle, the state troops seized a number of flags, which would embellish the Ridderzaal (Knights? Hall) in The Hague for years.In a contemporary Dutch military magazine, the victory at the ?Tielenheide? has been described as ? the heaviest blow ever delivered by the Dutch cavalry?. The location where the battle took place is no langer moorland: it is now a pine forest planted more than a century age, to meet the demand for wood in the old coalmines of Limburg . Part of the forest is now the military territory of the Third Paratroop Batallion, and part is now the De Waal nature reserve: it is not accessible to the public. In Tielen there is still a street called the Tielenheide, near the former moorland.