[#264] August 12, 2024
2022 | Wind Band/Ensemble | Grade 6 | 10’ – 15’ | Theme and Variations
Colores, by Belgian composer and conductor Jan van der Roost is our Composition of the Week.
Colores is a set of variations featuring different combinations and sections of the band. It was written in 2022. It has a duration of 13’ minutes and it is scored for large symphonic band, with optional Contrabassoon, Contra Alto Clarinet in E-flat, Bass-Saxophone and Celesta. Other featured instruments that are not optional are Soprano Saxophone, Flugelhorn, Cello, String Bass, Harp and Piano.
“Colores is the Spanish for ‘colors’ – a word which this composition seeks to reflect and build itself upon. Musical colors, timbres, sounds, soft and sharp color tones, sonorous effects … they are all present in this work. It is an abstract composition: completely lacking a story, scenario or any programmatic inspiration to guide the notes. The music speaks for itself.
Program Notes from the editor
Jan Van der Roost studied trombone, history of music and musical education at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven (Louvain), Belgium, and continued his studies at the Royal Conservatoires of Ghent and Antwerp, where he earned degrees in conducting as well as in composition.
At present, he teaches at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven (Belgium), is special guest professor at the "Shobi Institute of Music" in Tokyo, guest professor at the "Nagoya University of Art" and visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen in Kawasaki (Japan). Besides being a prolific composer, he is very much in demand as an adjudicator, lecturer, clinician and a guest conductor: his increasing musical activities brought him to more than 40 different countries in 4 continents, whereas his compositions are being performed and recorded all over the world.
His list of works shows a wide variety of genres and styles, including e.g. 2 Oratorios, a Symphony and some smaller works for Symphony Orchestra, a Guitar Concerto (dedicated to Joaquin Rodrigo), a Concerto for Trumpet and String Orchestra (dedicated to and commissioned by the Norwegian virtuoso Ole Edvard Antonsen), a Double Concerto for 2 Clarinets and String Orchestra (dedicated to Walter and Anne Boeykens), a cycle of Lieder for Baritone and Chamber Orchestra, works for Strings or Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Music, numerous Brass and Wind Band compositions, Choral Music as well as solo music.
Other works for winds by Jan van der Roost include:
Puszta (1988)
Poème Montagnard (1996)
Et in terra Pax (1998)
Sinfonia Hungarica (2000)
Sinfonietta (2004)
From Ancient Times (2009)
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