The Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep IV better known as Achnaton was the second son and successor of Amenhotep III. He reigned the New Kingdom from 1353 until 1336 BC. Achnatons lack of interest in the economic well-being of Egypt ushered ina revolutionary period in Egyptian history. His harsh reign induced much suffering under the population. During this period when it was customary for a pharaoh to have many wives he had taken his cousin Nefertete to reign as queen at hisside. An elegant and very beautiful woman she used her influence to ease the turmoil caused by Achnaton. Combined with her grace her presence at public functions led to a greater popularity among her subjects than the pharaoh enjoyedhimself. Being mostly preoccupied with religious questions he declared that all the other gods did not exist. There was only one god the Aten and it was the sun itself. It was now necessary to change his name: ‘Amenhotep’ meaning ‘the god Amun is satisfied’ because he didnt want to be associated with Amun or any of the other deities. He renamed himself ‘Achnaton’ which means ‘servant of the Aten’ -- a much more appropriate title! In the sixth year of his reignAchnaton also moved the capital to a brand new city called Achet-Aton (‘the Horizon of the Aten’) which was where Tel el-Amarna stands today. He did this to further isolate himself from the ‘old’ religion since the previous capital Thebes was thecentre of worship of Amun. This new religion created an up rise among the population and high priests. In spite of Nefertetes influence the falling economy and religious conflict resulted in the decline of the Egyptian empire. Hoping toforget it ever happened people later tried to eradicate all traces of Achnaton and his successors rule by smashing their statues mutilating their mummies and ruining their relief carvings. From that moment on he was remembered as the‘heretic king’. This composition was partially funded by the ‘Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds’.

Par PROKOFIEV SERGEI. The Russian ballet director Sergei Diaghilev commissioned many composers to write music for the theatre. This was what caused Serge Prokofiev to compose the four part Scytische Suite (also known as Ala and Lolli) in 1916, from which The Enemy God and the Dance of the Spirits can be heard on this CD. This suite is one of Prokofiev's first works, and received negative criticism following its first performance on account of its being 'uncivilised'. Prokofiev himself wrote after this first performance '. . . The timpani player beat the skin of the timpani to tatters, and the whole orchestra voiced a protest. A cellist complained that he only put up with the violence, createdby the blaring brass, on account of his sick wife and three children. . . '. / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Rondeau of the Shepherds ' so ran the official title of the famous Dutch Christmas carol ‘Midden in de winternacht’. In 1948 wrote Dutch poet and writer Harry Prenen this text. The melody is known by the 17th/18th- century organ composers of suites Daquin Balbastre and Dandrieu. 'Rondeau of the Shepherds' was subtitled 'Catalan Christmas Carol'. The song itself is because its origins in a Spanish (Catalan probably) Christmas song from the late Middle Ages 'El Desembre congelat. The motives of this song (shepherds flutes drums) demonstrate knowledge of the Bible and give a picture of the late medieval Christmas experience. . Perfect as an uptempo intermezzoin a church service.

Singapura Suite was commissioned by Singapore's Ministry of Education Extracurricular Activities Branch to serve as a compulsory piece for the 1999 Singapore Youth Festival.'Singapura' is the original name of Singapore in Malay the native language there. Because Singapore is one of the most important harbors in the world this two-piece work opens with a seaman's dance. An authentic melody Chan Mali Chan is woven into the middle of this first part whose ABA form becomes clear through the recapitulation of the seaman's dance in a somewhat altered form.Singapore is also a dynamic city-state alive with excitement thus the second part begins with a fitting dance a fastbourrée. As contrast there is a second authentic melody Dayung Sampan a more easygoing sailing song. This short but curious suite ends in high spirits with a recapitulation of the beginning.

Asteroids and comets have played an important role throughout the history of life on earth. It is quite probable that the dinosaurs have been exterminated by an asteroid's impact in the Gulf of Mexico. Huge tidal waves and fire storms wiped out all life. This is the year 2067 according to the Christian calendar. A collision has just taken place in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and caused an asteroid to enter the earth's power of gravitation. It is instoppably approaching the blue planet. As its peoples have been fighting each other continuously they missed the building of a global defence system against dangers coming from space. A scanner records the asteroid andimmediately sends a message to the President of the Anglo-American Union. The probability that the asteroid will hit the earth is judged 50% by the experts. Plans are made to shoot the celestial body with rockets live with hydrogen bombs or laser guns in order to throw it off its track but they fail. The asteroid's size seems to threaten the existence of mankind. Those in the know stare at the night sky in bewilderment. But for the time being there is still peace on earth....

Written as a commission by the Stichting de Inrichting foundation of Wijk bij Duurstede (the Netherlands) Rob Goorhuis Requiem voor de mens (Requiem for Man) on lyrics by André van Zwieten was composed in the year 2001. This work for choir andwind-band greatly impressed the audience whilst its composer remained obsessed by its war theme. When he subsequently heard that the Rundfunk Blasorchester from the German town of Leipzig -a place not far from Colditz - was to dedicate a CDto his work Rob Goorhuis got the idea to process some of the themes from his Requiem for Man into an instrumental composition about the famous Colditz castle. a place still bearing the scars of war. From 1933 to 1934 the castle was aSchutzhaftlager. During the Second World War it was used as a prison for senior officers. From this prison many escapes were undertaken which even resulted in the castle being nicknamed The Escape School. In the seventies a television-seriesabout this period made the castle very well-known with the public at large.The despondent tone of the opening theme underscores the sadness caused by wars and violence. Nevertheless the works ending is hopeful and triumphant. Peace iscelebrated but with the hope for a lasting peace sadly remaining a topical issue to the present moment.

The Last Queen of Egypt. Queen Cleopatra ruled Egypt for over 20 years. She is one of antiquity's best-known women, in particular because of her relationships with Julius Caesar and, above all, Mark-Anthony, but also because the cause of her death remains a mystery. The work is split into three parts and performed without breaks. The first section begins with a bright introduction representing Mark-Anthony. Dynamic in nature and reminiscent of military music, this characterises the Roman general. But soon after, another theme emerges, softer and more melodic, symbolising Cleopatra's femininity. The two characters then combine on a faster tempo. The middle section of the work depicts the love that Mark-Anthony and Cleopatra feel for each other. This passionate relationship lasted ten years and produced three children. This is expressed by a warm and intense theme, just like the beauty of the Egyptian queen. The third and last section opens in a determined and military mood. Mark-Anthony and Cleopatra were often apart, the Roman general was often away on a campaign. They met up in Alexandria to celebrate their triumph. But, as the targets of the jealousy and ambition of Octavius, Julius Caesar's son, the lovers are trapped and await the inevitable conquest of Egypt by the Romans. When Mark-Anthony heard the false news that Cleopatra had committed suicide, he ended his own life. The Queen of Egypt, for her part, was imprisoned shortly afterwards. The two lovers remain one of History's most famous couples. This piece was commissioned by the Wind Orchestra of the town of Antony, near Paris, directed by Philippe Rossignol, to mark its 90th anniversary.

Par DE HAAN JACOB. The Book of Urizen is a work for concert band, solo soprano, and a male narrator in which sound collages of religious expressions are used. The piece is inspired by the compelling visionary poem of the same name (which the poet illustratedhimself) by the Englishman William Blake (1757-1827), who occupies a unique position in western literature and the visual arts. He was not just a poet and a writer, but he was also a graphic artist, a painter, an illustrator, a spiritualist, areligious visionary, and a mystic philosopher. For the performance of this work, a professional sound system, including two microphones and a CD player, is needed. The three sound collages are three separate tracks on the enclosed CD and can beplayed easily at the right moment. The Book of Urizen bears resemblance to Genesis and Exodus, of which the contents form the basis of the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faith. Blake adhered to the principle that all religions are in fact one, and that deities reside in human beings. In The Book of Urizen this is represented in “The Net of Religion, ” which is spanned over the earth by Urizen. The sound collages, compiled by Jacob de Haan in the studio, find their origin inJerusalem, the Holy City, where the afore-mentioned faiths “come together. ” In the first movement of this composition, The Vision, Urizen prepares his vision of the world, and he presents this to the “Eternals. ” His vision is rejected, and Urizen locks himself up in his own abstract world. When he does emerge again, he is confronted with rage by the gathered Eternals. Urizen flees the wrath of the Eternals, “the flames of eternal fury, ” and enwombs himself in his own world. Whenthe Eternals see Urizen in his “stony sleep, ” they wonder if this is death. The blacksmith Los is torn by grief because of the isolation of Urizen. It brings him to rouse his fires, prepare his forge, and to give Urizen’s world concrete form. In the second movement, The Creation, Urizen’s world, but also man, woman, and child are created. Los is horrified with the appearance of Urizen’s body. He mourns and pities Urizen, and from his blood a female form comes into being, with thename Enitharmon. The Eternals, fearful of the female form, decide to erect a tent to obstruct their view to eternity. Enitharmon and Los beget a son, called Orc. Los baptizes him as a child of the “fallen world. ” Orc is fed at Enitharmon’s breast, which makes a girdle of jealousy restrict Los’ chest. He takes the child to the top of the mountain and chains him down. The cries of Orc awaken Urizen, who explores his world creating instruments of scientific measurement to do so. Los encircles theface of Enitharmon from the sight of Urizen and Orc. She then populates the earth by giving birth to an enormous race. The Web, third movement of The Book of Urizen is now available: DHP 1125252 / Niveau : 5 / Pièce de concert / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

In 2006 Brabant will be celebrating it’s 900th anniversary. On May 13th 1106 the count Van Leuven was appointed duke of Brabant. This was the birth of the duchy of Brabant. For centuries this duchy situated in the heart of the Netherlands was the primary of the seventeen provinces in the Lowlands. Brabant formed with it’s capital cities Brussels Leuven Antwerp and ‘s-Hertogenbosch the focal point for politics culture and economy. The revolution against Spain (1566-1648) caused a fracture between the North and South. The old duchy was divided into a Dutch and Belgian part. Even though each had their own historical background the bond forged in the past was partially keptalive. To this day we still have a duke of Brabant. Brabantia Aeterna takes you on a musical journey through 900 years of Brabant history. A fascinating journey portraying war and peace love and grief prosperity and adversity development and deterioration. Listen to how monks chanted bells tolled and churches were built. Or take the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries with their bustling markets builders of cities or the bleating of countless sheep across the heather. The plague tribulations soldiers and political bickering in the following centuries. Hear how the industrialisation of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries provided prosperity for the region and how to this day the following saying still applies: ‘the road to Brabant leads to a warmer world’ Brabantia Aeterna was commissioned by the Brabantse Bond van Muziekverenigingen (Brabant Music Society) in honour of its fifth anniversary.

Grands ou petits il y a toujours eu des héros. Cette composition est dédiée à tous ces héros qui se consacrent à une cause ou une autre sous l?impulsion d?une forte conviction ceux qui ont un idéal et le défendent ceux qui réalisent leurs rêves et enfin ces ?héros de tous les jours? dont les gestes discrets demeurent méconnus. Ces héros sont partout fuyant souvent la notoriété. Music for a Hero est une oeuvre lumineuse qui mettra à jour les protagonistes placés sous votre baguette.

Par BARNES JAMES. Risoluto is a music term of Italian derivation, first appearing in the mid 1700s. A great many musical terms such as this are in Italian, because many of the important composers from the Renaissance to the Baroque were from the geographic area known today as Italy and spoke some form of Italian. Consequently, performance markings in their published music, widely disseminated through the rest of Europe, were in the language that they best understood. Music marked in this manner is to be played firmly and decisively with firm resolve and little variance from the marked tempo. It can be seen that while there are several stylistic changes in this piece, the tempo varies not a bit, holding firm at Allegro vivo, quarter note at 120, from first measure to last. / Date parution : 2022-09-20/ Répertoire / Concert Band

Energetic music which invites you to dance because it is hard to keep still with this shuffle. And you don't have to. Feel like a fish in water in this Seafood Shuffle which includes some flashy solos. Solo parts in C Eb and Bb are included.

This song was written by David Foster, who has also penned many previous hits which have been performed and recorded by such artists as Céline Dion, Lionel Richie, Madonna and Michael Bublé. Because We Believe owes its fame to the performance by Andrea Bocelli during the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics held in Torino during 2006. Finish any concert with this great anthem and your audience will leave with a great feeling of well-being!