Brussels Requiem, A
General Info
Year: 2017
Duration: c. 16:25
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Brass Band
Publisher: Beriato Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - €304.66 | Score Only (print) - €46.72
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (opt.)
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alt Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion (4 players), including:
- Bass Drum
- Bass Marimba
- Bongo
- Conga
- Crash Cymbal
- Glockenspiel
- Hi-hat
- Ride Cymbal
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tom-toms (4)
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Whip
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The composition reflects on the tragic circumstances that arose from the series of terrorist attacks in the Belgian capital on March 12th 2016 that left 32 people dead and over 300 injured. However, in light of similar attacks in the UK, Europe and around the world since this time, the work also acts as a prescient touchstone on more immediate tragedies.
A Brussels Requiem is presented in four interlinked movements entitled Innocence, In Cold Blood, In Memoriam – We Shall Rise Again and A New Day. It does not describe the attacks but instead reflects on why the events occurred and the resultant complex emotions triggered by the raw fear as well as the more subtle anxieties in people’s attitudes and understanding of others; anger, grief and disbelief.
The composer pays tribute to the innocent lives lost in an emotive central section of remembrance, before bringing a passionate sense of hopefulness to the search for a new age of communal understanding. This is achieved through the development of a linear narrative based on the children’s song Au Claire de la Lune, which is used throughout, first as a symbol of innocence destroyed, but ultimately of potential redemption. The composer also expresses his own personal hopefulness through a series of beautifully realised lyrical episodes and solos – emphasising the gradual atmosphere of change that grows in determination and passion to overcome grief and sorrow.
This piece was commissioned by Brass Band Oberosterreich in Austria. It received its world premiere at the 2017 European Brass Band Championship in Oostende.
- Program Note from publisher
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Tokyo Geidai Wind Orchestra (Masaharu Yamamoto, conductor) - 2019
- Audio CD: The Royal Netherlands Army Band "Johan Willem Friso" (Tijmen Botma, conductor) - 2018
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Ritsumeikan Moriyama High School (Moriyama City, Japan) Wind Band (Takeshi Sone, conductor) - 22 December 2023 (2023 Midwest Clinic)
- Osakan (Japan) Philharmonic Winds (Tomo Matsuo, conductor) - 20 March 2022
- Tokyo (Japan) Kosei Wind Orchestra (Takashi Ooi, conductor) - 27 June 2021
- Luxembourg Military Band (Jean-Claude Braun, conductor) - 31 January 2018
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Absalon (2000)
- Awakening (1997)
- Biberussa (2010)
- A Brussels Requiem (2017)
- Celtic Child (2005)
- Choralia (2000)
- Colors (1998)
- The Cross and the Crown (2012)
- Egmont (2003)
- Fantasia per la Vita e la Morte (2006)
- The Green Hill (2011)
- Humperdinck Variations (2016)
- Hymnus Pastorale (2006)
- Ivanhoe (2001)
- Jericho (2002)
- Magnolia (2012)
- Morning Star Variations (2016)
- Noah's Ark (1998)
- Robinson Crusoe (2009)
- Sacred Song (2010)
- Saga Candida (2002)
- The Sword in the Stone (2011)
- Symphony No. 1 (2003)
- Symphony No. 2 (2011)
- Tropical Fishes (2013), from Bestiarium
Resources
- Perusal Score
- Bert Appermont Website Accessed 25 March 2022