This 17th installment is proposed by WASBE Executive Director Markus Mauderer (Germany)
Grade 3.5
Adai, Adai (2012) – 4’ – Purchase at Musikverlag Reinau
Siegmund Andraschek (1975, Austria)
"Adai, Adai" by Siegmund Andraschek is a folk song from Brunei.
The Sultanate of Brunei is a country in Asia. It is located on the island of Borneo in the South China Sea and borders Malaysia. The current territory of Brunei is the remainder of a much larger historical sultanate that, between the 16th and 19th centuries, encompassed almost the entire northern coast of Borneo under the rule of the Sultan of Brunei. "Adai-Adai" was sung by fishermen during their work and travels.
In 2012, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra was invited on a major tour of Asia, for which the organizer commissioned arrangements from the Austrian composer Siegmund Andraschek, including "Adai, Adai." Brunei was one of the destinations for a concert, and for each country visited, one or two traditional pieces from that country had to be arranged. The song has only a few bars, and merging the local musical idiom with the "European" sound at a high level was the prescribed direction for many of these commissioned pieces.
After the successful premiere in 2012 by the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in Brunei, the work was later performed again by the Covent Garden Soloists Orchestra, also in Brunei.
More info on Siegmund Andraschek
Grade 4
Stufen (2006) – 9’00” – Purchase at de Haske (Hal Leonard)
Jacob de Haan (1959, Netherlands)
Just as every blossom wilts and every youth gives way to age, each stage of life blooms, each wisdom blooms, and each virtue blooms in its time and must not last forever." This is how a poem titled "Steps"(stages) by the German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter Hermann Hesse begins, about departures and farewells, birth, new phases of life, and death.
In "Stufen", Jacob de Haan sets the famous poem by Hesse to music. The work is set for soprano and wind orchestra and creates an impressive and special note in the concert.
More on Jacob de Haan
Grade 3
In The Forest Of The King (2000) – 8’40” – Purchase at Daehn
Pierre LaPlante (1943 - 2024, United States)
IN THE FOREST OF THE KING is a three movement piece on traditional French songs that was commissioned for Richard Sanger’s Thoreau Middle School Band in Vienna, Virginia (USA). The American composer Pierre LaPlante passed away recently (May 22, 2024) and left behind an extensive oeuvre of mostly traditional songs.
He wrote about this composition: “Each of the songs used could be associated with an event or something found in the woods or countryside, hence the title.
A brief overview of the songs:
"Le Furet" is the only movement named in French as it sounded more interesting and palatable than “The Weasel“ or “The Ferret”. It is an old children’s song played as a circle game where a ring on a string is passed around.
"The Laurel Grove" (Nous n’irons plus a bois) has been around for hundreds of years as a favorite of both adults and children. I came across this beautiful song in our classroom music text when I was teaching general music. In a nutshell, the story is about a laurel grove where each year children would go to play and have fun. However, as the years passed a woodsman would come to chop down a tree to make one thing or another for his cabin. When all was said and done, the grove of laurel trees was gone and now only a memory of happier times.
"King Dagobert" (Roi Dagobert): There actually was an early Medieval King of the Franks named Dagobert. The song dates from the time of the French Revolution and the lyrics are somewhat less than flattering as they make fun of or ridicule Dagobert. My impression is that he was somewhat of a bumbler, an incompetent, always turning to his advisor St. Eloi Lui to straighten him out. Eric Satie quotes the tune in the third movement of his whimsical Vieux sequins et vieilles cuirasses (for piano). I have put the good king in a hunting scenario.”
You can find a detailed introduction and analysis of "In The Forest Of The King", written by Pierre LaPlante himself, in the WASBE World Magazine from December 2013 (available as free download for WASBE members on the website)
More on Pierre LaPlante
Grade 3.5
Troll Dance (2024) – 3’30” – Purchase at Oktavian Music
Thomas Doss (1966, Austria)
"Troll Dance" with the subtitle “Stadlinger Volkstanz” is a snappy, entertaining number by Thomas Doss, which was commissioned by the Musikverein Stadl-Paura in Austria and is dedicated to its conductor Klaus Eder. The Austrian composer Thomas Doss is known for his versatility. In addition to high-class serious works, he also knows how to write outstanding and motivating music for young bands and once again proves his versatility in "Troll Dance".
Doss on "Troll Dance": “Troll Dance is an enjoyable piece that is intended purely for entertainment and is intended to encourage people to dance along. In addition to various solos, the performers can also put themselves in the limelight with a spoken rhythm. However, these words do not make sense and can therefore sound different from the pronunciation of the words in the respective national languages of the musicians. Since the focus is primarily on ensuring a good mood, creative ideas are allowed.”
More on Thomas Doss
Grade 3
Merry Music (1983) – 5’20 – Purchase at Edition Musica Budapest
Frigyes Hidas (1928 - 2007, Hungary)
The Hungarian composer Frigyes Hidas (1928-2007) wrote his "Vidám Zene" (Merry Music) in the entertaining dance style of the folklore of his homeland. The main theme is cheerful, almost naive in its bipartiteness, but in the spirit of carefree joy. The entire piece thrives on the simplicity of its three-part structure (A-B-A). The middle section of the piece is very mischievous, led by a kind of tango rhythm, sprinkled with trombone glissandi. After some time, it transforms into a wistful alto saxophone solo that gradually increases in legato (surrounded by eighth-note arpeggios in the woodwinds), but then retreats and fades away to make room for the cheerful tones of the reprise of the first part.
Although Frigyes Hidas composed in all genres, he achieved international fame and recognition primarily for his chamber music for brass instruments and his works written for wind ensembles and wind orchestras. Full of humor and extremely effective, Merry Music is one of his best-known and most popular works.