for wind orchestra-Another award-winning composition by Johan de Meij: a spectacular orchestral adventure exploring the endless possibilities of the note ‘E’ in all its different forms and appearances.

In 1938 Shostakovich composed his Second Jazz Suite at the request of the recently founded State Orchestra for Jazz conducted by Victor Knushevitsky. This suite was originally scored for a complete symphony orchestra to which four saxophones an accordion and a guitar had been added. The Jazz Suite no. 1 in three movements composed in 1934 had been written for a smaller ensemble. The title 'Jazz Suite' is rather misleading as the composer definitely uses the style of light music. Back in 1928 the twenty-two-year-old Shostakovich had already composed some light music. A bet among friends to make an orchestration of the popular song 'Tea for Two' in less then one hour time causedhim to compose 'Tahiti Trot'. Shostakovich easily won the bet as he completed the original and witty arrangement within only forty minutes! In 1938 Shostakovich composed his Second Jazz Suite at the request of the recently founded State Orchestra for Jazz conducted by Victor Knushevitsky. This suite was originally scored for a complete symphony orchestra to which four saxophones an accordion and a guitar had been added. The Jazz Suite no. 1 in three movements composed in 1934 had been written for a smaller ensemble. The title 'Jazz Suite' is rather misleading as the composer definitely uses the style of light music. Back in 1928 the twenty-two-year-old Shostakovich had already composed some light music. A bet among friends to make an orchestration of the popular song 'Tea for Two' in less thenone hour time caused him to compose 'Tahiti Trot'. Shostakovich easily won the bet as he completed the original and witty arrangement within only forty minutes!

The Lord of the Rings (Excerpts Orchestra)

The Lord of the Rings (Excerpts Orchestra)

Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book. The fourth movement describes the laborious journey of the Fellowship of the Ring headed by the wizard Gandalf through the dark tunnels of the Mines of Moria. The slow walking cadenza and the fear are clearly audible in the monotonous rhythm of the low brass piano and percussion. After a wild pursuit by hostile creatures the Orks Gandalf is engaged in battle witha horrible monster the Balrog and crashes from the subterranean bridge of Khazad-Dûm in a fathomless abyss. To the melancholy tones of a Marcia funèbre the bewildered Companions trudge on looking for the only way out of the Mines the East Gate of Moria. Winner of the Sudler International Wind Band Composition prize in 1989 this is one of the most popular works for wind bands around the world. Wind Band score and parts.

Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book. The second movement is an impression of Lothlórien the elvenwood with its beautiful trees plants exotic birds expressed through woodwind solos. The meeting of the Hobbit Frodo with the Lady Galadriel is embodied in a charming Allegretto ; in the Mirror of Galadriel a silver basin in the wood Frodo glimpses three visions the last of which a large ominousEye greatly upsets him. Winner of the Sudler International Wind Band Composition prize in 1989 this is one of the most popular works for wind bands around the world. Wind Band score and parts.

Selections from the Musical-With hit musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar Evita Cats Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber is the most successful musical composer ever. His most recent production The Woman in White is based on a novel of the same name and depicts a mystifying woman dressed in white and her adventures within a web of love intrigue and mental breakdown! Johan de Meij has welded together the best songs from the musical into a striking whole and created a worthy rendering for the concert stage.

Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book. The first movement is a musical portrait of the wizard Gandalf one of the principal characters of the trilogy. His wise and noble personality is expressed by a stately motif which is used in a different form in movements IV and V. The sudden opening of the Allegro vivace is indicative of the unpredictability of the grey wizard followed by a wild rideon his beautiful horse “Shadowfax”. Winner of the Sudler International Wind Band Composition prize in 1989 this is one of the most popular works for wind bands around the world. Wind Band score and parts.

Johan de Meij’s first symphony The Lord of the Rings is based on the trilogy of that name by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book has fascinated many millions of readers since its publication in 1955. The symphony consists of five separate movements each illustrating a personage or an important episode from the book. The fifth movement expresses the carefree and optimistic character of the Hobbits in a happy folk dance; the hymn that follows emanates the determination and noblesse of the hobbit folk. The symphony does not end on an exuberant note but is concluded peacefully and resigned in keeping with the symbolic mood of the last chapter “The Grey Havens” in which Frodo andGandalf sail away in a white ship and disappear slowly beyond the horizon. Winner of the Sudler International Wind Band Composition prize in 1989 this is one of the most popular works for wind bands around the world. Wind Band score and parts.

The Suite Aquarium is Johan de Meij's third composition for symphonic band and features six tropical fishes each of them represented by a motif and surfacing as such in several guises. The composition consists of three movements of which the second and third merge uninterruptedly into each other. I) Allegretto grazioso (Neon Tetra Electric Eel and Angelfish) II) Andante / Adagio (Sea Horse and Zebrafish) III) Finale: Allegro giocoso (Guppy & Co.) The Neon Tetra motif functions as a kind of 'Leitmotiv' and descibes the beautifully coloured frisky fish: A number of variants have been derived from this theme and will also appear in the other movements. The Electric Eelin fact is not represented by a motif but by a rhythm based on the restless electric pulses made audible in some aquaria. The Angel fish is represented by elegant cluster chords. In the second movement the Sea Horse emerges out of the water vegetation and starts a dialogue with the Zebrafish which is represented by one melodic phrase in unison getting more and more threatening by added parallel fifths and octaves. Simultaneously with the Sea Horse motif the Neon Tetra theme emerges this time in 3/4 time and in Eb minor. The third movement starts with only two instruments (trumpet and xylophone) but as it is often the case with Guppies their number rapidly increases. Piccolo and Alto Saxophone introduce the Guppy Theme followed by several instrumental combinations. Every theme from the first movement 'swims by' once more after which the principal motif leads us to a brilliant ending. The Suite ' Aquarium ' is Johan de Meij 's third composition for symphonic band and features six tropical fishes each of them represented by a motif and surfacing as such in several guises. The composition consists of three movements of which the second and third merge uninterruptedly into each other. I) Allegretto grazioso (Neon Tetra Electric Eel and Angelfish) II) Andante / Adagio (Sea Horse and Zebrafish) III) Finale: Allegro giocoso (Guppy & Co.) The Neon Tetra motif functions as a kind of 'Leitmotiv' and descibes the beautifully coloured frisky fish: A number of variants have been derived from this theme and will also appear in the other movements.The Electric Eel in fact is not represented by a motif but by a rhythm based on the restless electric pulses made audible in some aquaria. The Angel fish is represented by elegant cluster chords. In the second movement the Sea Horse emerges out of the water vegetation and starts a dialogue with the Zebrafish which is represented by one melodic phrase in unison getting more and more threatening by added parallel fifths and octaves. Simultaneously with the Sea Horse motif the Neon Tetra theme emerges this time in 3/4 time and in Eb minor. The third movement starts with only two instruments (trumpet and xylophone) but as it is often the case with Guppies their number rapidly increases. Piccolo and Alto Sax

Prisoners of the Sun-Tintin forms the centre of this wonderful suite. The music has originally been composed for a musical based on Tintin - The Prisoners of the Sun and reflects not only the adventurous “Indiana Jones” atmosphere but also the characters of figures like Cuthbert Calculus. Johan de Meij’s arrangement contains a wonderful selection from the musical in which various styles and genres meet and cross each other. This fabulous piece will appeal to young and old alike.

Prisoners of the Sun-Tintin forms the centre of this wonderful suite. The music has originally been composed for a musical based on Tintin - The Prisoners of the Sun and reflects not only the adventurous “Indiana Jones” atmosphere but also the characters of figures like Cuthbert Calculus. Johan de Meij’s arrangement contains a wonderful selection from the musical in which various styles and genres meet and cross each other. This fabulous piece will appeal to young and old alike.

from La Boutique Fantastique- La Danza is a playful Neapolitan tarantella composed by Gioacchino Rossini that became world famous in the orchestration by Ottorino Respighi. It’s hard to sit still during this fresh whirlwind!