...........................

3 SONGS (1991), for soprano and orchestra, and ...de Origen Volcánico (1992 - see below) are the result of my work with a local symphony orchestra in Gloucestershire, whose conductor I was for a period of five years. The orchestra's format is that of a traditional symphony orchestra. I allowed myself great freedom in the design of these two works, all the while making sure the demands and limitations of this type of orchestra (composed mostly of amateurs) were strictly observed. Debussy was never far from my writing desk when I wrote the songs: the third one opens with a straight quotation from La Mer. They are, however, also studies for an opera I have been waiting to write for years - but probably never will... Studies in text setting, in learning to adapt smoothly to the music already present in the language of the lyrics. In this case from three poems by Paul Celan:

1. Chanson einer Dame im Schatten

2. Zu beiden Händen

3. Oben, geräuschlos

The Songs were first performed by Charlotte Riedijk and the New Stroud Orchestra, with me conducting.

…DE ORIGEN VOLCÁNICO (1991). This short but explosive work for symphony orchestra was originally designed as an overture to the 3 Songs (see above). Because of the songs' sparse accompaniment I wanted to give the ensemble something more substantial to work on, engaging each player to maximum effect in an effort to raise the roof in collective outbursts.

Since we humans - and almost everything around us - are of volcanic origin anyway, the title ...De Origen Volcánico is comparatively tautological. On the other hand it might focus our attention - however fleetingly - on something we don't contemplate every moment of the day. The music doesn't try to imitate volcanoes in any way whatsoever. It is simply a residue, an echo, if not a manifestation of primordial volcanic energy, just as a flower, a bird, a tropical storm, an atomic reaction, an act of love, a composer... are of volcanic origin.

...De Origen Volcánico is dedicated to Lucas Vis as a thank-you for our cooperation during the rehearsals and performance of Hallelujah I with the Radio Symphony Orchestra and Harry Sparnaay in September 1991. It was therefore a fitting coincidence when Lucas conducted the first Dutch performance with the Brabants Orkest in Eindhoven in 1995 - a beautiful recording of which is available at Donemus. Its world premiere was given by the New Stroud Orchestra for which it was written, and I conducted that performance myself.

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