Par DE HAAN JACOB. This composition is based on a passacaglia theme, in which artistic perfection, symphonic drama and oriental melody lines play a role. The passacaglia is originally a dance made up of a series of variations above a bass line constantly present as an ostinato. It is not in this sense that the 'Symphonic Variations' are in the passacaglia form but in the sense of the open form of …

Choralkantate. Par HERZOGENBERG HEINRICH VON. Reprint of the first edition. Friedrich Spitta recommended to Herzogenberg that he set Gerhard Tersteegen’s text “Gott ist Gegenwärtig” on the occasion of that poet’s 200th birthday. Besides the obbligato organ, Herzogenberg restricted the instrumentation to strings, two trumpets, three trombones and timpani, and thus achieved a majestic quality which …

Par STARER ROBERT. For 3 trumpets and 3 trombones./ Répertoire / Sextuor de Cuivres

Chiemsee-Messe. Par HAYDN JOHANN MICHAEL. Among Haydn’s over thirty settings of the Latin Ordinary, the Missa in honorem Sanctae Ursula occupies an outstanding position, which, according to the autograph, was completed on 5 August 1793. This Mass has been referred to as the most “Mozartian” of all his masses. With its song-like melodic character, the unity of the motivic material and the harmonius…

Bach composed his oratorio for the Feast of the Ascension in Leipzig in 1735. Though this work has the duration of a cantata, the choice of text places it among the oratorios. It combines the biblical account of the Ascension with chorales and free madrigal poems.As in other works which were composed during this same year (e.g. the 'Christmas Oratorio?), Bach reveals a special fondness for colourf…

Par BROSSE DIRK. With the sound of trumpets and a long drum roll Dirk Brossé takes you to the splendour of the opening ceremony of a bullfight! The rhythm and the use of South American percussion instruments convey a festive atmosphere whilst broad lines and bright colours describe the solemn nature of this event. The imaginary bull is received with great acclaim with the full band playing. Two co…

Par ADDISON JOHN. Strings/ Répertoire / Quatuor de Cuivres

Par VAN DER ROOST JAN. A spectacular dive via an extended chromatic scale immediately submerges us in a charged and somewhat archaic-feeling atmosphere. Trumpets, horns and trombones resound in rhythmic patterns, buttressed by restless motifs in the percussion. A second theme, in the woodwinds, begins much calmer but is quickly pushed aside by that same brass offensive. This introduction is the mu…

Bach composed his oratorio for the Feast of the Ascension in Leipzig in 1735. Though this work has the duration of a cantata, the choice of text places it among the oratorios. It combines the biblical account of the Ascension with chorales and free madrigal poems.As in other works which were composed during this same year (e.g. the 'Christmas Oratorio?), Bach reveals a special fondness for colourf…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Güdel, conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure, featuring the brass, before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short, syncopated interlude a legato theme …