OR EGON fantasy for band
Jacob de Haan Conductor Full Score Grade 4 Duration 10:00
© Copyright 1989 DE HASKE Muziekuitgave BV, Windas 2, 8441 RC Heerenveen, Holland
Jacob de Haan Jacob de Haan, born on March 28, 1959, in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, is one of the most popular and most played wind music composers of our time. In a long-time cooperation with his publisher, De Haske Publications, he has issued numerous compositions and arrangements for various line-ups. His compositions, mostly written on commission, are known worldwide – especially the works that are based on film-music-like combinations of styles. Oregon, his most performed composition, brought about his international breakthrough. His oeuvre for wind band further consists of compelling concert works with different grades of difficulty, short concertante works, didactic material for beginners, entertainment music, and marches. He also writes various arrangements of existing classical works and chorals. De Haan completed his studies, majoring in school music and organ, at the Music Academy Leeuwarden. Subsequently, he lectured in arranging at the same conservatory. In 2003 he received a music award for his entire oeuvre from the Frisian regional broadcasting company (Omrop Fryslân). Jacob de Haan regularly acts as a guest conductor with performances of his own works – not only in Europe, but also Australia and the USA – and as a jury member at international competitions. One of his guest conductings was at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle. Furthermore, he gives workshops at various conservatories such as the Bavarian Music Academy in Germany.
OREGON This fantasy tells the story of Oregon, one of America's north western states. Traveling by train on the Northern Pacific Railroad, the listener is taken through the fascinating Oregon landscape. Indians, cowboys, golddiggers and hooded wagons will file past on this adventurous journey. The piece has some similarities with a soundtrack of a movie. Various melodies, which could be the main themes of a movie, pass the review. The piece begins in a slow movement, introducing the first theme in minor. Then we hear in the following fast movement the trombones imitate the train, whistling the steam-flute. We hear the characteristic minor theme again, but now in different variants (also in major). The rythmic structure of "western" stile and rock succeed each other. This is leading to the slow movement, where the signals of horns and trumpets introduce a wonderful vocal melody. After this characteristic melody, the fast movement appears shortly again, the trombones whistling the steam-flute again (now in major). We hear also some musical elements, that plays a part in the following Presto. Barchanges, jazzy chords, interesting rhytmic patterns (with bongo) and an original theme are the characteristics of this Presto. After this, the horns announce the last section of the piece. Interesting is the fact that we hear in this Allegro section a variant of the vocal melody in the slow movement. Also the Presto theme returns shortly, followed by the Allargando, which is a grand characteristic end of a soundtrack. The movie of our travelling fantasy has come to an end.
