Blokes

“Blokes” (Kerels) is dedicated to the board and musicians of the VTI school orchestra “De Kerels” from Ypres, the orchestra where Peter Leroy has been active as conductor since 2007.

The composition is bursting with youthful enthusiasm and underlines the friendly bond among the musicians, young and not so young. The piece opens with a powerful spectacle for the brass section. Then the bass and percussion instruments take the lead and form the basis for the first theme. Jazz influences for the saxophones and special effects for the trumpeters and trombonists are indispensable.

Yet not everything is all roses and moonshine. The oboist puts an end to the casual atmosphere and lets us reminisce about times gone by. We do not dwell on this for long because the brass players are impatiently waiting to use the overture again as a call and to remind us that we must look ahead to a hopeful future for the (youth) orchestras in Flanders and beyond. out there.