Sta op en Schitter (Arise and Shine) was originally composed for the Dutch students’ chamber orchestra Ricciotti Ensemble, for their 2019 tour in Georgia, and subsequently arranged for symphonic wind orchestra and for full symphony orchestra. Sta op en Schitter is a famous quote from Isaiah 60: 1, and I chose this title for several reasons: It was inspired by several Georgian legends about heroes, like Mindia, The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, St. George and Amirani. Georgia was one of the first countries in the world to become a Christian nation, as long ago as in the 4th I spent the summer holidays of 2013 in Georgia, together with my family, and we camped for one week in the wild in the Caucasus. To Arise and Shine is precisely what the gorgeous Georgian nature inspires one to do. Sta op en Schitter was the motto of my mother-in-law, who was able to fight cancer during 14½ years, before she finally succumbed to it, one month after my family’s holiday in Georgia. All in all, Sta op en Schitter is first of all an ode to the beautiful country of Georgia and its wonderful people. While it doesn’t actually quote any Georgian traditional melody, it does make extensive use of the characteristics of Georgian harmony and polyphony and Caucasian rhythms. However, there is a broader context as well, in the sense of my mother-in-law’s  motto: to rise up and shine is always a heroic thing to do, regardless of one’s circumstances. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrJVbx0VN-4

The Homage to Johan Wagenaar is an concert overture—a genre in which Johan Wagenaar himself composed some of his most successful pieces—cast into a sonata form mould with a slow introduction, making use of themes that have been derived from various compositions by Wagenaar himself. In the score, these pieces are mentioned next to the various themes. Simultaneously, the composition has been modelled on the life story of this important Dutch composer, who lived from 1862 till 1941. 00:00 Introduction. The composition starts with an atmospheric slow introduction, immediately introducing the primary and secondary themes of the ensuing Exposition. 00:41 The fairytale-like atmosphere is reinforced by a theme in the horns, derived from Wagenaar's symphonic poem Elverhoï (number 1). 00:56 Johan was an extramarital child from a patrician and a housemaid, which caused him a lifelong struggle with inferiority feelings. The themes of respectively the aristocracy and the common people from the first act finale of Mozart's Don Giovanni musically express the class difference between his parents (number 2). 01:17 In number 3 finally, the music gradually becomes more turbulent. 01:44 Exposition. The turbulence leads to the exposition of the primary theme (number 4), not without reason derived from Wagenaar's overture The Taming of the Shrew: As a child, Johan has a vehement nature and he is difficult to handle. However, once his musical talents have been discovered by a musician from the Utrecht City Orchestra, he receives a thorough musical education, into which he submerges himself with his inborn vehemence. This is being expressed by a fiery fugato, starting at number 9. Soon the music quiets down, leading to the secondary theme (number 12). This has been derived from the love theme from Wagenaar's overture Cyrano de Bergerac: Johan meets Dina, the love of his life, and they start a relationship. Development. Suddenly, a furious variant of the aristocracy's theme appears (number 17): Dina's parents are vehemently against a marriage between their daughter and Johan, who not only is a bastard child, but on top of that also a mere musician. This theme starts a musical conflict with the Taming of the Shrew theme. When Dina's parents finally force their daughter to return to the paternal house, far away from Johan, a time of sadness and loneliness follows. In number 21 we hear a lamenting variant of the common-people theme from Don Giovanni, in number 23 followed by motives from the Taming of the Shrew theme. (Inverted) Recapitulation. Years later, Johan encounters Dina again (number 25). In the meantime, her father has died and Johan has acquired some status, so this time it turns out that it is possible for them to marry. Both are unified in marriage (number 29), and for Johan a time of musical triumphs follows (number 33), during which he finds support in a happy marriage (number 35). The Dutch Fund for the Podium Arts has enabled me to compose this overture. I feel honoured to have been able to write this musical homage to what I consider one of the most important composers the Netherlands has produced. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMVsq7Ti1NY

The two young novice monks Taro and Jiro, disciples of the Old Monk, go on their way to the pharmacist Mohej, to ask him for the return of the furin (Japanese wind chimes). ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPfmIDW5iqg

Sebastian Brouwer, tenor; the composer, piano The first stanza of this poem is quoted in Gogol's short story Diary of a Madman, with an alternated last line. In this song, I used Gogol's alteration. Text by Николай Петрович Николев / Nikolai Petrovich Nikolev (1758 – 1815) (scroll down for an English translation) Душеньки часок не видя, Думал, год уж не видал; Жизнь мою возненавидя, Жизнь мою возненавидя, Льзя ли жить мне, я сказал. Но лишь встретился с душою, С нова стала жизнь мила; С новой, с новой красотою Вся природа процвела. В взгляде милой я встречаю Ясна солнышка лучи; С нею вечно не скучаю, С ней денёк мне и в ночи. Не отдам я дорогого За богатство всех царей; Счастья не хочу другого, Ставши душенькой твоей. Речью, душенька, такою Вечно, вечно утешай! Мною ты, а я тобою! Век влюбви найдём наш рай. Век влюбви найдём наш рай. Just for an hour I hadn't seen my beloved, And I thought I had not seen her for a year; I loathe my life, I loathe my life. Can I go on living? - I said. But once I met my dear soul, Again life became sweet again; With a new, new beauty The whole of nature flourished. In my sweetheart's look I meet The bright sun's rays; With her I am never bored, With her it's always day, also in the night. I will not give my dear one For the wealth of all kings; I do not want any other happiness, Now that I have become your darling. In talking like this, my beloved, I find comfort always and forever! You are mine, and I am yours! The age of love will find our paradise. The age of love will find our paradise. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDQJ5myKTFg