1834 - Jan Van der Roost

The twofold title of this concert work is directly connected with the band who commissioned it. The 'Harmonie Municipale Grevenmacher' from the town of the same name, by the river Moselle in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was founded in the year1834. The name Machera is derived from the word machara, which in turn originated from maceries (old wall). Later, Machera evolved into Machern, Grafenmachern, and finally Grevenmacher.In 2009, this music society the third oldest still in existence in the country celebrated its 175th anniversary. And after all these years the society still flourishes! The dynamic committee, led by Georges May, fully supports and inspires themusical leader of the band, Claude Weiland, as well as his 60-strong ensemble. This well-functioning team took the initiative to ask Jan Van der Roost to write an anniversary composition, inspired, on the one hand, by the rural character ofGrevenmacher and its surroundings (where the famous Moselle wine growing dominates the countryside), and on the other hand, by the dynamics, creativity and joie de vivre the band exudes. All of this resulted in a twofold work with alternating peaceand excitement, virtuous and melodic features, orchestral splendour and soberly orchestrated passages. The premire, on 10 January 2010, was conducted by the composer himself at a successful gala concert which brought a fine year full of musicalfestivities to a close. The 'Harmonie Municipale Grevenmacher' faces the future with confidence, and will now prepare for its next milestone: the 200th anniversary!

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