Poet and Peasant - ouverture (CB) - Franz Von Suppé - Bert Van Thienen

Franz von Supp gained world fame with the overture of Poet and Peasant (1846). The work is one of the most popular works of the light classical repertoire. 'Poet and Peasant' was composed not for one of his own operettas but as a part of incidental music to a play by a colleague named Karl Elmar.

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Quando m'en vo (CB) - Giacomo Puccini - Bert Van Thienen

Aria for soprano voice and concert band from the opera La Bohme by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924). Also known as Muzetta's Waltz.

Red Lines (CB) - Stijn Aertgeerts

Red Lines was commissioned by the Swiss Army Brass Band and their conductor Philipp Werlen. The title is a reference to their very distinctive black uniforms with Red vertical lines. Switzerland is a country with a tremendously rich brass band culture and have some of the best bands in the world. The individual level of musicians is also of incredibly high quality. The work begins very bombastically with continuous 8th notes. This immediately sets the drive for the entire first movement where the low brass and woodwinds can also show off huge sounds several times. It culminates in a grand tutti before the music calms down in the second movement where the euphonium can show its solistic qualities and the band can show a big difference in dynamics and sound. The final movement is driven by the drums and timpani that provide a solid boost to keep moving the thematic material forward in the band and through the percussion solo a big build-up to a glorious finale.

REPRISE (CB) - Yves Wuyts

REPRISE was written at the request of VLAMO for the relaunch of the amateur music in Flanders after the second lockdown. Reprise literally means resumption. Pick up where we left off. This positive and energetic work symbolises the resurrection of our cultural sector.

Selegra Jerusalem (CB) - Gion Andrea Casanova - Corsin Tuor

(Freue dich Jerusalem / Rejoice Jerusalem)

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Shifting Winds (CB) - Arend Gerds

A virtuous and energetic work. Shifting rhythmical patterns, tone repetitions and fast and flowing musical lines are the main ingredients of this composition.

Smash (CB) - Manuel Renggli

Imagine the hustle and fuss of a big city at night. Countless people who want to escape the rush of their everyday life. The streets appear in the light of the electronic billboards and loud music can be heard from the nightclubs. Music whose rhythm goes directly through the body and puts us in a cheerful mood. In his piece "Smash" Manuel Renggli tries to describe this floating and at the same time somewhat frightening situation. "The beat", the rigid and always constant meter plays a decisive role. A feeling of lightness arises, the worries are taken away. For a short moment one finds itself in a kind of ecstasy.

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Soon the dawn will come (CB) - Roger Derongé

Dawn is the moment just before sunrise with early daylight that initially twilights and gradually gets stronger.

Spartakiade (CB) - Serge Prokofieff - David Byles

March for a Spartakiade was written for a Russian athletic festival, the Sartakiad, which was inspired by the highly disciplined warriors of ancient Sparta.

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Stations of the Cross (CB) - Dominique Fonteyn

Stations of the Cross tells the story of a real tragedy. In the dramatic opening, we hear the euphonium announce the bad news. The character is trying to process all but doesn't succeed, lots of emotions result in a lament. An inner conflict arises between the emotional and the rational. Over time, he manages himself to take back control but events keep him bother. This is reflected by the continued drums until we suddenly arrive in the lento abbandono. We are witnessing a redemptive event and the grandioso that follows reflects a lot of happiness. Life can finally go on.

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