The organisers of the 2020 Netherlands National Championships (NBK) have announced the five test-pieces that will hopefully be used at their event, provisionally scheduled to take place in November.
Restrictions on major public events and concerts are not due to be reviewed by the Dutch Government until September due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with the 40th National Championship currently earmarked for the 6th & 7th November at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht.
Proud
Speaking to 4BR, Pieter van Diepen, Chairman of the NBK said: "All composers are well known to the banding movement in the Netherlands.
We are delighted to be associated with Edward Gregson's major commission and rightly proud of the qualities of the works from our four home composers. There is a fine mix of youth and experience on show to test the bands, and we hope the current situation will improve to hear these works in Utrecht played by the competitors.
Although these are particularly uncertain times at the moment, in principle we continue to prepare with optimism."
Championship Division:
'The World Rejoicing (Symphonic Variations on a Lutheran Chorale)' by Edward Gregson will be performed by the Championship Division contenders.
The collaborative commission between five contest organisers of the British Open and the National Championships of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Norway, it is currently due to receive its premiere at Symphony Hall on 12th September, although this is also dependent on the easing of current cultural event restrictions.
First Division:
First Division contenders will be faced with a new work from the pen of Joop van Dijk entitled, 'From San Marco'.
It takes its inspiration from the works of composers of the Baroque and Renaissance period that would have been performed in churches, palaces and theatres in the San Marco quarter of Venice. Homage is paid not only to the famous names of Monterverdi, Vivaldi and Pergolesi, but also the likes of Dr Rore, Steffani and Vecchi to form a homogenous whole.
Second Division:
Hendrick de Boer's 'Signature: Fantasy in two Movements' is the Second Division set-work. It is a free fantasy of two parts, each containing three sections and inspired by an academic appraisal of his leitmotif signature as well as a personal musical ode to the composer's daughter.
Part 1 consists of a 'Prologue', 'Toccata and 'Cadenzas', with Part 2 made up of an 'Elegy in B-minor', 'Tarantella & Apotheosis' and 'Epilogue'.
Third Division:
Geert Jan Kroon's 'The Final Frontier' is the set-work in the Third Division.
It is inspired by Stephen Hawkin's book, 'Brief Answers to the Big Questions' and examines various associations to our relationship with the universe.
In four parts that look at 'Energy & Space', 'The Great Unknown', 'The Big Question', and 'The Final Frontier', it focuses on a personal fascination of space that first occurred for the composer on a visit with his young sons to a planetarium.
Fourth Division:
The Fourth Division bands will perform a new work from Tjeerd Nijhof entitled 'Green'.
As the title suggests it is a work inspired by the colour of nature, as well as harmony, balance and innovation.
However, it also stands for jealousy and resistance, so it also explores both aspects — the calm and beautiful first, and what the composer calls, the 'somewhat naughty' in the second, before a return to a meditative atmosphere is rounded off with a dazzling close.
Although these are particularly uncertain times at the moment, in principle we continue to prepare with optimismPieter van Diepen, Chairman of the NBK
Test pieces
Championship Division: 'The World Rejoicing (Symphonic Variations on a Lutheran Chorale)' (Edward Gregson)
First Division: 'From San Marco' (Joop van Dijk)
Second Division: 'Signature: Fantasy in two Movements' (Hendrick de Boer)
Third Division: 'The Final Frontier' (Geert Jan Kroon)
Fourth Division: 'Green' (Tjeerd Nijhof)
