Gustav Mahler is probably one of the most important composers of late Romanticism. His symphonies are emotional extravaganzas of hectic near neurotic movements on the one hand and extremely beautiful melodies and wonderful choral music on the other hand. This Adagio from his 6th symphony which has been arranged in a majestic way by Georges Moreau is a perfect example.

The Dutch town of Weert was originally (in 1062) called Wherta and is derived from the Dutch word ‘Waard’. The small town’s value is its high location in the middle of a marshland. The work describes the history of how Belgium and the Netherlands fought a long battle to gain possession of the town during the revolution in the Low Countries in the 16th century. To illustrate this Willy Fransen brought together parts of the Dutch and the Belgian national anthems in a subtle manner. This work is dedicated to the Municipal Brass Band of Weert.

Bavarian Pictures is the successor of A Bamberg Fantasy but is more difficult and more complex. In this innovative work the composer has endeavoured to combine traditional tonal elements with innovative elements from the competition repertoire. This composition is based on Bavarian folksong which are interwoven through the composition in various ways.

Sven Van Calster composed this work after he visited this city in the Czech Republic. A solemn fanfare is followed by a brilliant allegro with a heavy beat. A slow section in ballade style precedes a reprise of the introduction and then an extravagant finale follows. This is an ideal piece for a concert or a competition.

The term �Pastorale� originally meant a (musical) poem extolling the virtues of rural life. Beethoven�s 6th symphony is a fine example of this. In his Hymnus Pastorale Bert Appermont has dressed this concept in a modern guise with a composition featuring a magnificent and broad chorale which can be played by any ensemble. It is ideal as an interlude in your concert or as a warm-up piece.

Man in Motion is the title number from the film St. Elmo’s Fire from 1985. The song was a huge hit and was even nominated for a Grammy. In the meantime it’s become a world-wide classic which in this entertaining concert band arrangement will enliven any concert programme.

Like ‘Hijo de la Luna’ ‘Enamorada’ is another great Latino song regardless of the fact that it was composed by Belgian songwriters. Stef Minnebo who is an expert in this kind of music thanks to his work as a bass and guitar player made an original but faithful adaptation of this Belle Perez hit. It’s time to put your lambada outfit on and dream of the South.

The mystique surrounding life and death formed the starting point of this composition. I wanted to write a work without a story mixed up in a kind of musical quest for a new world of sound original rhythm sequences melodies filled with suspenseand distinct orchestral tones.The indirect cause was the birth of my first child which took place during this time followed by the death of a close family member. At such a moment you experience just how close life and death are to each other anddespite one being the antithesis of the other they are incredibly similar. Both radical events are passages into new worlds and have great emotional impact. Moreover the work was commissioned by “New Life” an orchestra that lost one of itsmusician in a plane crash which also led me to believe that this approach would be appropriate.I would prefer not to comment on which passages in the composition concern life (birth) and which refer to death. It seems to me that it is moreinteresting to question traditional conceptions and leave it open for the listener. If you think that a passage is about birth and this idea then shifts it is this that raises fascinating questions on both a musical and metaphysical level.Music isin an indirect but incredibly persuasive way in which to express the endless striving and seeking of mankind. Music can even touch eternity as it were and give us the feeling that we can transcend death. This endless search (and also longing) canbe heard throughout the work; as much in the sound fields and accent shifts in the first part as in the enormous tension curves and compelling themes of the second part. The semi-tone functions in this way as a guide or something to hold on to running through the whole work and upon which much of the musical material is based. Traces of profound love resound with quiet simplicity in the slow section’s melodious solos after which the work contemplates life and death one last time musesupon joy and sadness on the possibilities and limitations of people and on the why of all things.I would like to dedicate this work to my dearest daughter Paulientje to Meterke and to Johan de Jong of the “New Life” orchestra. May it fare themwell here or in another dimension…

Song for Nico leads one to suspect that this song was written for someone very special... This beautiful romantic pearl is a quiet moment in every concert programme. It contains beautiful melodies in all instrument groups always provided with cue-notes for any incomplete orchestras.

In addition to being an actress Barbara Streisand is chiefly known as the singer of beautiful ballads. This Evergreen arranged for saxophone and band is probably the most famous song sung by this diva.

This invigorating symphonic march was commissioned by the company Sabic Europe for the opening of their new Dutch head office in Sittard.Innovation an open mind and professional skill are the three main basic elements of this company and they also serve as the basis of this composition full of unexpected harmonic turns and original chord sequences partly based on the name SABIC.A stirring acceleration brings this symphonic march to a spectacular conclusion.