Suite Provençale VAN DER ROOST JAN

Musique pour orchestres et ensembles

Description :

This 4-movement suite is based on authentic folktunes from the beautiful southern province in France: the "Provence". The composer used an harmonic language respecting the popular characteristics, but on the other hand also contains some "spicy" notes (. . . just like the wellknown "Provençal sauce"! . . . ). The instrumentation is very colourful, paying a lot of attention to the different timbres of both brass and wood winds as well as to the percussion section. Every movement has its own character: "Un Ange a fa la crido" (= An angel brought the creed / credo) is like a bourrée, "Adam e sa Coumpagnou" (= Adam and his companion) is an old love song, "Lou Fustié" (= the carpenter)a fast dance and finally "Lis Escoubo" (= a whistle tune / popular ballad) is a farandole. In the latter, the old tradition of folk musicians who play a whistle with one hand and a drum with the other hand, is clearly represented during the first presentations of the one and only theme)Although this piece is not too demanding, a well balanced band is necessary to perform it successfully. Thanks to the contrasts and the varying colours, it keeps on holding the attention.