Manhattan Pictures DHCB5

In this colourful composition, Jan van der Roost recreates the energeticand multi-racial city life in Manhattan, using four contrasting movemen ts. The opening movement is rather short and rhytmical. In the second “Picture”, a variety of musical entities accumulate into a coloured “soundcurtain”, on top of which the brass section presents a broad theme. In contrast to the two previous movements, the third movement is exremely quiet, featuring the first flute, clarinet an oboe in broad melodies. Again, the orchestration plays an essential role. Following on a majestic “tutti” (almost “movie-like....) the serenity of the very beginning reappears. Finally, the nervousness and dynamic style of the two first movements come back in an exciting apotheosis with rich and sometimes surprising instrumentation which explores the multiple possibilities of the large symphonic wind band to the full.