Via Claudia

Johan de Meij

Johan de Meij

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Subtitle: An Imaginary Journey Across the Alps

General Info

Year: 2012
Duration: c. 15:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Amstel Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - €180.00   |   Score Only (print) - €50.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
English Horn in F
Bassoon I-II
Contra-Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Symphonic Wind Orchestra Landeck was founded in 1637, and is one of the oldest ensembles in the world. It was a distinct honor to write a commissioned work for their 375th anniversary in 2012 – I don’t get requests like this on a daily basis, particularly from a wind orchestra of such storied history. After taking a quick dive into the history of Landeck, a picturesque town in Tyrol, Austria, I learned how the town was a way station on the Via Claudia Augusta. This old Roman road was the main link between the Italian Po Valley and the German city of Augsburg.

In Via Claudia, the orchestra takes the listeners on a journey across the Alps, which begins on a misty morning near Venice. In a stately procession the travelers master an arduous climb and navigate bumpy trails and steep mountain passes. When the highest point is reached, the sun breaks through wispy clouds and they behold the breathtaking alpine scenery of the valley. The tour continues to a flowering alpine meadow with peacefully grazing cows. An alphorn sounds from afar -- the echoes bounce between the steep mountain walls. The approach to Landeck is illustrated by brilliant brass fanfares. Finally, the end of the journey, the arrival in Augsburg, is marked by a triumphant hymn.

Via Claudia received its world premier in 2012 during the Anniversary Concert of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra Landeck, conducted by the composer. The work is dedicated to conductor Helmut Schmid, who initiated this commissioning project.

- Program Note by composer

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: Philips Wind Orchestra

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• San Francisco Wind Ensemble (San Mateo, Calif.) (Johan de Meij, conductor) – 20 January 2018
• l'Orchestre d'Harmonie Caecilia 1880 Strasbourg-Robertsau (France) (André Hincker, conductor) – 8 November 2015

Works for Winds by this Composer

• African Harmony (2017)
• Aladdin Suite (as arranger)
• Aquarium (1991)
• At Kitty O'Shea's (2011)
• Beatles Collection (as arranger) (1982)
• Canticles (2007)
• Casanova
• Celtic Classics (2016)
• Ceremonial Fanfare
• Chanson de Matin (as arranger) (c. 1890/1988)
• Clair de lune (as arranger) (1890/1905/2017)
• Cloud Factory (2011)
• Continental Overture
• Copacabana (as arranger)
• Downtown Divertimento (2014)
• Echoes of San Marco (2016)
• Edgar (as arranger) (1889/2008)
• Extreme Make-over (2004)
• Extreme Beethoven
• Fellini (2015)
• Festive Hymn (2007)
• Fifty Shades of E (2016)
• Highlights from "Riverdance" (as arranger) (1994/2014)
• Highlights from the Seville Suite (as arranger) (1992/2011)
• Honky Tonk Ragtime (as arranger) (1985)
• Jazz Suite No. 2 (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
  • March (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
  • Lyric Waltz (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
  • Dance I (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
  • Dance II (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
  • Waltz No. 2 (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
  • Finale (as arranger) (post-1956/1994)
• Joropo (as arranger)
• Jupiter Hymn (as arranger)
• Klezmer Classics
• La Fanciulla del West (as arranger) (1910/2008)
• La Quintessenza
• Les Papillons (as editor)
• Loch Ness (1988)
• Madurodam
• March to Mars (as arranger) (1987)
• Musical Highlights from "Chess" (as arranger) (1993)
• The Painted Bird (2021)
• Pavane (as arranger) (1899/1991)
• Pennsylvania Faux Songs (2018)
• Phantom of the Opera (as arranger)
• Polish Christmas Music, Part I
• Ratatouille Satirique (as arranger) (/1994)
• Romeo and Juliet (as arranger). See: Suite from the Ballet "Romeo & Juliet"
• Songs from the Catskills (2012)
• Spring (2010)
• Star Wars Saga (as arranger) (1987)
• Suite for Variety Orchestra (as arranger) (post 1956/1994)
• Suite from the Ballet "Romeo & Juliet" (arr. de Meij) (1935/1990)
• Summer (2013)
• Symphony No. 1 (1987)
  • Gandalf (The Wizard)
  • Lothlorien (The Elvenwood)
  • Gollum (Smeagol)
  • Journey in the Dark
  • Hobbits
• Symphony No. 2
• Symphony No. 3 (2007)
• Symphony No. 4
• Symphony No. 5 (2018)
  • Ancalagon, the Black (2018)
• UFO Concerto (2012)
• T-Bone Concerto (1996)
• Te Deum (as transcriber) (1900/2010)
• Two-Bone Concerto (2016)
• Teddy Trombone (as arranger)
• The Venetian Collection
  • Empire of Light
  • Magic Garden
  • Red Tower, The
  • Voice of Space
• Via Claudia (2012)
• Wind in the Willows (2002)
• Windy City Overture
• The Witches' Sabbath (as arranger)
• The Woman in White (as arranger) (2006)

Resources

• Johan de Meij website Accessed 16 January 2018