Is there something to be celebrated? Then let's play 'Let's Celebrate'! This four-part suite has been based on two birthday songs: the world-famous 'Happy Birthday to you' (which is also sung in many other languages) and the Dutch song 'Lang zal hij/zij leven'. The Fanfare opens in grand style with the motif of 'Lang zal hij leven' and is followed by a cheerful March in which the motifs of both songs can be heard. The third part Song forms a moment of contemplation and the birthday presents are unwrapped by the percussion section in the fourth part Surprise Party. The yell may be adapted to the occasion. (the sleigh bells caused the composer to note down this somewhat peculiar yell). Of course everybody is expected to join in.

This delightful ballad in which the Alto saxophone plays a leading role will remind many people of a very special moment in their lives. A lot could be said about it but perhaps it is better to let the music speak for itself. While listening to this romantic ballad unforgettable moments are sure to be relived by many people. Daydreaming is allowed but don’t forget to pay some attention to the soloist’s performance – it will be worth your while.

Renowned Belgian composer Kevin Houben composed ?Ride? for the ?Fanfare ?Bereden Wapens??. This orchestra originated after drastic reorganisations and cutbacks within Defense in 2011 and 2012, including in the military music armed forces. The thought behind the composition ?Ride? is the signal ?forward?. The signal ?Forward? is part of a military memorial ceremony, as the sign to close off a sad or dark period, and to go on with renewed force. ?Ride? is also a command for horses to go forward. Appropriate, as the ?Fanfare ?Bereden Wapens??, part of the regiment Huzaren van Boreel, is part of the Cavalry. When the Fanfarekorps Koninklijke Landmacht ?Bereden Wapens? was abrogated, this was an extremely sad and radical moment for the orchestra members. The ?Fanfare ?Bereden Wapens?? announces the dawn of a new period and picks up again with an effervescent and splashing composition: ?Ride?.

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) came from an aristocratic family which lived near Novgorod. When he appeared to be musically gifted as a child his parents did not hesitate one moment to map out a more honourable profession for him – he wasto make a career in the navy as a marine officer. Rimsky-Korsakov however succeeded in secretly studying the cello next to his studies at the Naval Academy at St Petersburg. Through his cello teacher he came into contact with the composerBalakirev. In this way he suddenly became a member of The Mighty Five (a group of Russian composers consisting of Balakirev Moussorgsky Cui Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov himself). Rimsky-Korsakov turned out to be so talented that he evenbecame a teacher at the St Petersburg Conservatory.‘Procession of the Nobles’ comes from the opera-ballet ‘Mlada’.The opera has a remarkable history for between 1868 and 1870 five different composers worked on this project. The finalresult was never executed however. Twenty years later Rimsky-Korsakov started work on the opera once more and composed his own version of Mlada.The theme of the opera is a tragic love story that is set in the early Middle Ages in a realm on theBaltic Sea. In ‘Processsion of the Nobles’ all the princesses of the country gather for a grand feast on the occasion of the summer holidays.

Elegy for Band-The initial idea was for a millennium piece which it is but rather than add to the many celebratory pieces that have understandably been written to salute the 3rd millennium Philip Sparke thought it would perhaps be appropriate to think about the aspects of life that are constantly with us (such as faith and philosophy) rather than the exciting changes that the year 2000 has undeniably wrought. This calm meditative work will bring a moment of serenity and reflection to any concert.

Song for Nico laisse supposer que cette oeuvre a été écrite pour quelqu?un de très spécial... Cette petite perle romantique à souhait est un moment de calme qui a sa place dans tout programme de concert. Elle contient de jolies mélodies dans tous les groupes d?instruments toujours accompagnées de signaux d?entrée pour les éventuels orchestres incomplets.

Le point de départ de cette composition est la mystique entourant la vie et la mort. Je souhaitais composer une uvre sans récit et jai plongé dans une sorte de quote musicale vers de nouveaux mondes sonores des enchaînements de mesures originaux des mélodies riches en tensions et des tonalités orchestrales particulières. Ce qui a indirectement donné lieu à cette composition cest la naissance de mon premier enfant qui a eu lieu à peu près au même moment que le décès dun membre cher de ma famille. Et cest dans de tels moments que lon apprend à ses dépens combien la vie et la mort sont intimement liées et combien malgré leur immense contraste elles se ressemblent paressence. Car dune part ces deux événements bouleversants sont des passages vers un nouveau monde et dautre part ils ont tous deux un énorme impact émotionnel. En outre le donneur dordre de luvre est un orchestre qui sappelle « Nieuw Leven » (Nouvelle Vie) et cet orchestre a lui-même perdu un musicien décédé dans un accident davion ce qui ma conforté dans lidée dune parfaite adéquation de ce thème avec lensemble de la situation.Je souhaite ne pas dévoiler les passages de luvre qui parlent de la vie (la naissance) et ceux qui parlent de la mort. Car il me semble justement intéressant de remettre en question la conception traditionnelle y afférente et de laisser la porte ouverte aux auditeurs. Quand vous pensez qu'un passage parle de la naissance et que vous inversez cette donnée cela suscite des questions passionnantes aussi bien sur le plan musical que métaphysique. De façon indirecte mais formidablement pénétrante la musique est capable dexprimer la quote infinie de l'homme. Elle peut si lon peut sexprimer ainsi toucher l'éternité pendant un bref instant et nous donner le sentiment d'être en mesure de dépasser la mort. Cette quote (et aussi cette aspiration) éternelle se retrouve partout dans luvre : aussi bien dans les champs de sonorité et les glissements daccent de la première partie que dans les énormes tensions et les thèmes

A moment of revenge for anyone who had to take piano lessons. Scored for smaller bands.