Ashes to Blossoms

The original commission for the 2015 piece Resilience called for a composition that would fit into a program commemorating the First World War, without focusing on the war itself. Rather, the different ways in which the war was commemorated would be the subject of the piece. In 1920, Canadian Lieutenant Colonel Henry Beckles Wilson published a book entitled Ypres, Holy Ground of British Arms. He describes the picturesque city of Ypres as it looked before the war and reports on the three 'battles for Ypres'. He also criticizes (even then!) the way people started opening cafes and bars to make a profit from the emerging war tourism. In the foreword to the book, the author strongly suggests that the ruins of Ypres should be preserved in their current state and serve as an open-air museum and memorial. The destroyed city would thus bear witness to the war and remind future generations of the scandalous years 1914-1918. The inhabitants of Ypres, on the other hand, showed great courage and resilience and decided to rebuild the medieval city as faithfully as possible according to the original plans. From the ashes a new and flourishing city emerged.

During the global Covid-19 crisis in 2020, composer Klaas Coulembier realized that the concept of resilience would become more relevant than ever. Even during the crisis, when people were not allowed to gather, he noticed how musicians turned out to be very creative to overcome these restrictions. Despite the many creative solutions, everyone was obviously looking forward to being able to play again during rehearsals and concerts, to meet each other in real life. “I had faith that people, especially in these contexts, would quickly find comfort in making music together again. I found the original story of my composition just as relevant to this situation and decided to create a recomposition for Brass Band, to celebrate the resilience of human societies and individuals.” says the composer. In the meantime, the threat of war is more topical than ever, with various conflicts around the world. This composition is dedicated to everyone who is faced with the task of rebuilding a home, a country, a life, during and after difficult times. From ash to blossom.

Demo

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