UFO CONCERTO - JOHAN DE MEIJ
Composer's note:
"UFO Concerto, my first solo work for euphonium and wind orchestra, is not a traditional concerto in the classical sense. It consists of five movements that are thematically related to one another. The opening chord may sound familiar to some listeners: This chord and the first theme are based on the same five-note chord used in my works ‘Extreme Makeover’ and ‘Planet Earth’ of 2005: a major triad with an added 4th and a 7th. This chord has been obsessively present in my head ever since -- I could not resist using it again! Both the chord as well as the main theme make appearances in various shapes and forms throughout the entire piece.
I Andante – Con moto
II Giocoso – Vivo
III Andante cantabile
IV Vivace
V Alla Marcia – Vivace
"UFO Concerto, my first solo work for euphonium and wind orchestra, is not a traditional concerto in the classical sense. It consists of five movements that are thematically related to one another. The opening chord may sound familiar to some listeners: This chord and the first theme are based on the same five-note chord used in my works ‘Extreme Makeover’ and ‘Planet Earth’ of 2005: a major triad with an added 4th and a 7th. This chord has been obsessively present in my head ever since -- I could not resist using it again! Both the chord as well as the main theme make appearances in various shapes and forms throughout the entire piece.
I Andante – Con moto
II Giocoso – Vivo
III Andante cantabile
IV Vivace
V Alla Marcia – Vivace
Jason Ham, solo-euphonium player with the West Point Band (USA), initiated the consortium that commissioned UFO Concerto. He performed the world premiere on February 15th, 2012 in Baltimore (MD) with the Peabody Wind Ensemble, conducted by Harlan Parker. Jason also invited British virtuoso David Childs and Euphonium Foundation UK to join the consortium and play the European performances. At the request of both players, I also made a version for euphonium and brass band. David premiered this version with The Cory Band, conducted by his father Dr. Robert Childs at the 2012 RNCM Festival of Brass in Manchester, England."
Following the brass band premiere at the RNCM, one reviewer wrote, “The world premiere of 'UFO Concerto' was an immense 25-minute vehicle for the abundant talents of David Childs. Subtly coloured with piano and harp, the piece was beautifully scored with its approachable vein of melody allied to technical demands that were quite literally Childs play in the hands of the soloist.”
New York based composer Johan De Meij made the trip to the UK for the performance and was equally impressed. “Dave Childs and the Cory Band with Bob Childs conducting gave a superb world premiere of UFO Concerto. Thank you all for the dream start. Now I’m looking forward to hearing it in its Wind Orchestra form too!”
Following a performance in the USA with Jason Ham and the Peabody Wind Ensemble, David & Robert Childs gave the first British performance of UFO for Euphonium & Wind Orchestra when they appeared as guests of the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain, performing in concert at Banbury and the Dukes Hall of London’s Royal Academy of Music on the 14th & 15th of April 2012.
David later gave the Dutch premiere of the Concerto with the highly acclaimed Harmonie St. Michaël van Thorn on May 17th at the Theatre Orangerie in Roermond, flying back out for a further performance with the same orchestra on June 10th in Eindhoven. He also gave the Spanish premiere of the work with La Banda de Lalin, near Santiago de Compostela, recording the work for Amstel Classics – the composer’s own record label.
Such has been the success of the Concerto that the composer has now agreed to produce an orchestral version for David Childs. Further information on the premiere of the orchestral version will be placed here as and when it becomes available.
JOHAN DE MEIJ
Johan de Meij (Voorburg, 1953) studied trombone and conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague. He has earned international fame as a composer and arranger. His catalogue consists of original compositions, symphonic transcriptions and arrangements of film scores and musicals. His Symphony No. 1, The Lord of the Rings, based on Tolkien's best-selling novels of the same name, was his first composition for wind orchestra. It received the prestigious Sudler Composition Award in 1989. In 2001, the orchestral version was premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Lord of the Rings has been recorded by renowned orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the North Netherlands Orchestra, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra. His cello concerto Casanova was awarded First Prize at the International Composition Competition of Corciano [Italy] in 1999. A year later, De Meij won the Oman International Composition Prize with The Red Tower. His Symphony No. 3, Planet Earth was awarded 2nd Prize in the 2006 edition of the Corciano Competition. He received the Dutch Wind Music Award 2007 for his important role in the worldwide advancement of the genre.
Besides composing and arranging, Johan de Meij is active as a performer, conductor, adjudicator and lecturer. As a trombone and euphonium player, he has performed with the major orchestras and ensembles in The Netherlands, such as the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, the Dutch Brass Sextet, the Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra and Orkest 'De Volharding'. He has conducted some of the leading wind orchestras of Europe, Asia, North and South America and has led master classes around the world.
The Lord of the Rings has been recorded by renowned orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the North Netherlands Orchestra, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra. His cello concerto Casanova was awarded First Prize at the International Composition Competition of Corciano [Italy] in 1999. A year later, De Meij won the Oman International Composition Prize with The Red Tower. His Symphony No. 3, Planet Earth was awarded 2nd Prize in the 2006 edition of the Corciano Competition. He received the Dutch Wind Music Award 2007 for his important role in the worldwide advancement of the genre.
Besides composing and arranging, Johan de Meij is active as a performer, conductor, adjudicator and lecturer. As a trombone and euphonium player, he has performed with the major orchestras and ensembles in The Netherlands, such as the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, the Dutch Brass Sextet, the Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra and Orkest 'De Volharding'. He has conducted some of the leading wind orchestras of Europe, Asia, North and South America and has led master classes around the world.
