For the farewell concert of the mayor of Haarlem mr. Pop I made a transcription of the song 'Dag Haarlem' (transl. goodbye Haarlem) of singer songwriter Cobi Schreijer on a lyric of the famous lyricist Lennaert Nijgh. The song was interpreted by Leoni Jansen and Josee Koning and the entire audience! The orchestra was Holland Symfonia conducted by Jan Stulen. Besides Holland Symfonia, Leonie Jansen and Josee Koning Boudewijn de Groot, Hakim, organist Jos van der Kooy, Wijnand Stomp and the women's choir Malle Babbe of Leny van Schaik were part of the program.

This summer the Ricciotti Ensemble will visit Londen (Great Britain). For this tour I made a so called 'Bollywood' medley. The name 'Bollywood' is a conflation of Bombay, the old name of Mumbai, and Hollywood, the center of the United States film industry. Though some purists deplore the name (arguing that it makes the industry look like a poor cousin to Hollywood), it seems likely to persist and now has its own entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. (source: Wikipedia)

On his deathbed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart confides to his wife Constanze that he will leave her an infinite treasure. A treasure for her, their children and the dedicated servant Franz, the coachman who drove Mozart anywhere and knew all of his secrets. But what and where is this treasure? An exciting story for children from 6 to 12 years old. For this remarkable project I made 2 transcriptions of Mozart's music which will be performed by Holland Symfonia conducted by the Flemish conductor Florian Heyerick. The Coachman of Mozart was played in Haarlem, Philharmonie on the 8th of April 2006 at 14:00h and in Alkmaar, Theater De Vest on the 9th of April 2006 at 14:30h.

There are 80 musicians needed to form a symphony orchestra! They play on a lot of different instruments. The musicians like to play together in order to create an impressive sound. But sometimes they play alone or with a few other instruments. And this will sound very different again. During the project 'Orkest in de Hoofdrol' (leading role for the orchestra) you can listen to all the possible combinations. First you can hear how it sounds when a few instruments play together. This is called an ensemble instead of an orchestra. The music they play is called chamber music. For these small ensembles I made 7 new arrangements among which a contemporary version of the Badinerie of J.S. Bach and the 3rd horn concerto of W.A. Mozart. The concert continues in the mail hall. All the musicians meet there to play in a large symphony orchestra called Holland Symfonia. In front of the orchestra we'll see Bart Schneemann. He is the conductor who gives indications to the musicians when to play the music, but particularly he indicates how fast and how loud, how slow and how soft they should play. Joep Onderdelinden is our host. He is coming to visit The Concertgebouw to introduce his sweetheart... and who knows she'll play a tune on her violin?

From 29th of January until 3rd of February 2006 the Ricciotti Ensemble made their 'Scholen Karavaan' tour. During this tour the Ricciotti Ensemble visited many schools. The primary schools were be prepared for a visit of the Ricciotti Ensemble with a new teaching package, written by Gesineke Veerman. For this tour I wrote a new arrangement of 'Colors of the Wind' from Pocahontas. The Ricciotti can be quick and flexible. Within five minutes they are able to put together an entire orchestra on any unusual concert venue. The ensemble does not limit itself to human audiences: it once played in front of a thousand sheep and gave a coffee-time concert for a gathering of sea lions! Not every performance is announced: sometimes the musicians make a spur-of-the-moment decision to give a concert, taking their listeners completely by surprise.

In occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Dutch queen Beatrix the month of November 2005 (informally) was called 'Hollandmaand' (Holland month). This was the theme on which the provinces North and South Holland celebrated this jubilee. During this so-called 'Hollandmaand' in 2005 there were lots of activities organized for all kinds of sections of the population. From teaching packages and a quiz till television programs and a sing along festival, of course with our Majesty as the central figure. The sing along concert was held in the renovated Philharmonie in Haarlem. Loes Luca and R&B artist BRACE performed during this concert along with Holland Symfonia. For this remarkable concert I made 15 orchestral arrangements of traditional Dutch songs like 'Ding-a-dong' (winner Eurovision Song Contest 1975)', 'Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten', 'Ik Hou van Holland', 'Een Pikketanissie', 'Terug naar de Kust' and 'Het Dorp'. For BRACE I made a symphonic version of his recent top 10 hit 'Hartendief'.

For the fifth time Stadsschouwburg & Philharmonie Haarlem, the Toneelschuur and Patronaat presented the opening festival De Stad Als Podium. On Sunday the 4th of september 2005 the new theater and concert season in Haarlem was opened with this festival on the 'Grote Markt' in Haarlem. On the program (among others): Alpha Opus II, Classic Buskers (UK), Holland Symfonia with Maarten van Roozendaal and Lucretia van der Vloot, Parne Gadje (NL/CAN), Cheb Balowski (SPA), Gabriel Rios (BEL), Stuurbaard Bakkebaard, Millionaire (BEL) and The Sheer. For the concert of Holland Symfonia with Maarten van Roozendaal and Lucretia van der Vloot I wrote a number of arrangements.

Ricciotti's Maghreb Tour: This summer the Ricciotti Ensemble has Morocco as a theme. With a very exciting program, focused on Moroccan music, the Ricciotti Ensemble will try to 'conquer' both the Netherlands and Morocco. The Ricciotti Ensemble is extremely proud to work with three great soloists: Kamal Hors, Michael Baird and Chaouki El Ofir, all three of them specialists in Moroccan music. I made an orchestral arrangement of 'Moors Paleis' (transl.: Moorish Palace), written by Kamal Hors.

Singing, Indians and a Symphony Orchestra?

Which child doesn't dream of fairy tales and exotic places - knights and princesses -, about Aladdin - or Indians? Which kid does not dream of performing in a large hall, on stage with a famous actress and a real symphony orchestra? On the 1st of October 2005, everybody from 9 to 18 years old - with or without singing experience - gets the chance to make this dream come true: 'Lelawala: a Canadian Indian Legend'. Actress Wieteke van Dort will appear as the narrator of the story. The concert starts at 16:00h in the main hall of 'De Doelen' in Rotterdam, along with the Randstedelijk Begeleidings Orkest. For this project I made 7 arrangements, including Canadian classics like: 'Land of the Silver Birch', 'She's Like the Swallow' and 'Ani Kuni' and 1 original composition.

The Noord Nederlands Orkest (Orchestra of the North of The Netherlands) organizes, also because of their 15th anniversary, along with the executive producer Jaap Alkema from Hoogezand a long term 'Streektaalproject' (2004-2007) about the Drenthe, Frisian and Groningen regional languages. The project hooks in to the attention which is given to the regional languages each year in March. The NNO creates an attractive program with a mix of symphonic and songs from the region. Each year there is a theme; in season 2004-2005 it was 'the clock/time'. For this project I wrote a new arrangement of the song 'Hier en Nu', composed by Erik Harteveld.

Holland Symfonia provided the final chord for the HEIMWEE festival in Haarlem. This concert is a tribute to Lennaert Nijgh, the famous lyricist from Haarlem. His songs were performed by Mathilde Santing, Josee Koning, Maarten van Roozendaal, Lucretia van der Vloot and Thé Lau, accompanied by Holland Symfonia conducted by Jan Stulen.

On the day of the concert, 28 November 2004 it was be exactly two years ago that Lennaert Nijgh died. He left an extensive oeuvre with a lot of famous lyrics.

For this projects I wrote 7 new arrangements.

For Holland Symfonias project 'Reis door de Ruimte' (transl.: 'traveling through space') I was asked to transcribe the superhit 'Heb je even voor mij' (transl.: 'do you have a spare minute for me?') for full symphony orchestra. I was also asked to make a short "back-to-the-sixties" avant garde composition. Believe me, this was a quite an exercise for me because while composing this piece -which I've named 'Pagaille Perimée'- it started sounding too 'nice' all the time. :-)

For the 3rd time a was assigned to make a final number for the Ricciotti Ensemble conducted by Bas Wiegers. This time it was the world-famous Thelma Houston hit: Don't leave me this way''. This song was covered by many artist like The Communards, Sheena Easton and Teddy Pendergrass. The Ricciotti Ensemble plays anywhere for any audience. The orchestra wishes to bring good music to as many people as it can. That's why the Ricciotti Ensemble will give a minimum of three and occasionally up to twelve performances per tour day. This can only be achieved through speed. Hence, the Ricciotti is the world's fastest symphony orchestra. Its current record for completing its orchestral set-up -- timed from the moment the players jump off the coach to the sounding of the first note -- is 2.31 minutes! This has to be seen to be believed.

Midsummer night concert in Caprera (Bloemendaal): 'The Song of the Mediterranean Sea'. On the 25th of June 2004 Holland Symfonia performed -on a stage illuminated by torches- a sultry classical program with music which enabled the audience to smell the resin from the pinetrees. During this evening 3 world-class female singers took along the audience on a musical trip around the Mediterranean Sea. The young Libanese singer Rima Khsheish has taken her place in Beirut performing the rich Arabic song tradition. Along with Holland Symfonia conducted by Hans Leenders she sang music of her legendary predecessor Fairuz. Also exclusive for this concert the Greek singer Savina Yannatou came to The Netherlands. She gained world-wide fame with her beautiful voice and the versatility of her repertoire in which she collected song traditions from all over the world. At that evening she presented traditional music from Spain, Sardinia, Israel and of course Greece. Especially for this concert I made 6 new orchestral arrangements.

A few years ago Frank van Goor den Oosterlingh wrote The Sound of Eastbroock in a version for piano solo and strings. It was his great wish to have this piece played by a large orchestra. His wish was fulfilled on the 9th of May 2004 during the 'Mothers Day' of the Frysk Jeugdorkest conducted by Theo Brouwer.

The Friesch Dagblad wrote about this: ..."Touching and impressive was the premiere of The Sound of Eastbroock, a life's work of Frank van Goor den Oosterlingh in an orchestral arrangement by Bouwe de Jong. It is a beautiful atmospheric description of the nature around us, a composition which is very peaceful and makes you forget your daily worries. The piano part was played by Frans Douwe Slot on the big concert piano of "De Harmonie". Although it isn't a piano concerto, the piano part is in such a degree interesting it should be played in the foreground of the orchestra."...

For the Great Children's tour of the Ricciotti Ensemble I wrote a new arrangement of the disco smash hit 'I Will Survive', written by Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren and made immortal by Gloria Gaynor in 1979. What the Ricciotti Ensemble is? Ever seen a symphony orchestra playing in a rain forest? Or in a meadow among sheep? Along an expressway? In a fountain? On the beach, a mountain slope, aboard a speeding hydrofoil? The Ricciotti is an unusual orchestra. Forty young musicians keen to share their love of symphonic music with everyone and everything. In particular, they're keen to bring their music to those who don't normally attend concert halls.

'Entrée' is the association of the Concertgebouw and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Along with the association "Entrée" Holland Symfonia presents 1001 Night: music theater based on the famous 'Fairy tales from 1001 Night'. The evening started with a program by Holland Symfonia, dancers of The Royal Dutch Ballet and a variety of soloists, performing music of Rimski-Korsakov and Ravel. For this concert I wrote 6 arrangements of e.g. traditional Turkisch gypsy music, Egyptian and Arabic music, but also "Kashmir" of Led Zeppelin was a part of the program.

On a rainy Saturday morning in January 2004, the Rijswijkse Schouwburg was crowded with children to take part in a Junior Scratch day. There was a tight rehearsal schedule to learn all the songs to perform at the final presentation at the end of the afternoon. The children were singing a number of traditional songs and a selection from Jurgen Golles 'The Playground' along with the Randstedelijk Begeleidings Orkest. The selections from "The Playground" were especially orchestrated for this occasion by yours truly. The host of this Junior Scratch day was Edwin Rutten (the famous 'Ome Willem'), which was great fun for the kids, but also for their parents!

On the 9th of October 2003 it was exactly 25 years ago that the famous chansonnier Jacques Brel died. For this occasion Music Hall Frits Philips in Eindhoven organised a concert on which Liesbeth List performed a number of popular songs of this legendary Flemisch composer / chansonnier. Also on this concert there was a performance of the Flemisch vocalist Micheline van Hautem with symphony orchestra and with her own band "Mich en Scène". For this concert I had the honour to make a number of orchestral arrangements. Liesbeth List was accompanied by the 'Dutch Promenade Orchestra', conducted by Jurre Haanstra.

In 2003 The Vest Theater in Alkmaar had its 25th anniversary this year. This was celebrated on 20th of September of that year with a gala concert. During this concert Trijntje Oosterhuis, Michiel Borstlap, Margriet Eshuijs, Jan Rot and Miranda van Kralingen will perform their own music accompanied by a full symphony orchestra, conducted by Jurre Haanstra.

For the summer tour of the famous Ricciotti Ensemble I've arranged a cheerful final number named "Can't get my eyes off of you", written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, but made world famous by Frankie Valli, The Supremes, Sheena Easton, Gloria Gaynor, Lauryn Hill, Hermes House Band, Boys Town Gang, etc.

For an educational project of Holland Symfonia named 'Kinderen tussen het Orkest' (children surrounded by an orchestra) I've arranged the rap-song named 'Alles in de Wind' (everything in the wind) for symphony orchestra from the original of Stijn van der Loo. During this project the host Hein Franssen had practised the lyrics with the children in order to perform the song together with this symphony orchestra.

On the 5th of May 2003 (liberation day) Holland Symfonia played on the oldest festival of liberation in The Netherlands Bevrijdingspop (Liberation Pop). The orchestra performed on stage in the 'Haarlemmerhout' together with some of the most important hiphop acts from Haarlem, among which Relax, Gotcha!, Nicotine, Track Addicts and Pete Philly. Hiphop band Relax is on its way to an international career, cross-over band Gotcha! prooves with a spectacular mix of rap, funk and rock that parochialism is history. I made the arrangements for Gotcha! and Nicotine.

For the new CD of vocal ensemble 'The Gents' which was released by Channel Classics in October 2003 I made 3 arrangements: 'Gaudete' , 'Let it Snow' and 'Sleigh Ride'. Marimba Quartet Carrefour and the Rubens String Quartet are also featured on this CD.

In a pilot-project named 'Sing Along with a Symphony Orchestra' 120 kids gave 2 concerts along with Randstedelijk Begeleidings Orkest. Milouska Meulens from the Dutch news for youth was the host of these concerts. For this project I made 4 arrangements of traditional children's songs: from The Netherlands ('Komt Vrienden in het Ronden') and ('Wel Annemarieke'), Surinam ('Faja Sitóng') and Japan ('Sakura') .

Arthur Cune and I wrote a popsong which has been recorded as a demo with the vocalist, actress and photomodel Limin. We are very happy with the result and we are 100% sure that we'll hear some more of this talented soprano very soon.

In October 2002 one of my compositions was performed and recorded in Oslo by The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (Kringkastingsorkestret) conducted by John Clayton, Artistic Director of Jazz for the 'Los Angeles Philharmonic' and the 'Hollywood Bowl'. Click here for some sound samples.

On the 5th of May 2002, a band from Amsterdam called 'De 4 Tuoze Matroze' played on the 'Festival of Liberty' together with the 'Noordholland Philharmonic Orchestra'. For this project I made 3 arrangements of their 'modern style' sailor's songs.

In February 2002, two orchestral arrangements were performed by the 'Dutch Promenade Orchestra' along with 'Marimba Quartet Carrefour'. On the 7th, 8th and 9th of February there were concerts in the 'Meervaart' (Amsterdam), the 'St. Jans Church' (Utrecht) and the 'Westerkerk' (Amsterdam).