Rundel Video: Song for Benni | Media center

Notes available at:
https://www.rundel.de/en/

Lullaby / Wiegenlied
Kees Vlak, born in Amsterdam in 1938, can today doubtlessly be considered one of the most significant Dutch composers of his generation. His works are performed throughout Europe, and as an instructor at wind seminars, a juror of international competitions and guest conductor with many orchestras he can look back on a long and successful career.

At the age of eight he received his first lessons in piano and trumpet. Kees Vlak studied piano, trumpet, composition and conducting in Amsterdam. From an early stage he devoted his composing activities primarily to wind music. In order to make himself acquainted with the problems of woodwind and string instruments, he also learned to play clarinet and double bass.

Since 1990 Vlak has worked together with RUNDEL music publishers, whose ongoing publication of his works is exemplary.

Kees Vlak composed his "Song for Benni" as a musical present for Thomas Rundel on the birth of his son Benedikt. The flugelhorn plays a simple, touching, dreamy melody which is accompanied by the orchestra with delicate chords in a very effective way. Following a series of different variations, a few dark-sounding intermediate bars in the orchestra and a brief transitional cadence in the flugelhorn, the work dies away in a gentle piano after a reminder of the opening melody. Overall, the piece maintains an intermediate level of performance difficulty. As the solo part is also located in the middle tonal range, it can easily be performed by less proficient wind players as well.

The "Song for Benni" represents a considerable addition to the repertoire for annual concerts and festivals at a lower performance level. This delicate work will also attract and delight audiences of large-scale wind concerts.
 

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BASIC SOUND
From S to XXL – Music for any band instrumentation

"Basic Sound" is a series by RUNDEL Music Publications offering an attractive and diversified repertoire to bands at grade 2 or 3 level, of sizes S to XXL. "Basic Sound" allows for performances by groups with limited instrumentation. Minimun requirements are clearly bracketed in the score.
The smallest size (S) of "Basic Sound" is based on the following instruments:
one (1) flute, two (2) clarinets, one (1) alto-saxophone, two (2) trumpets, one (1) trombone, one (1) baritone/euphonium, one (1) tuba and percussion.
Each edition also includes a full set of parts (XXL). That way the conductor can adjust the pieces of the "Basic Sound" series to his band's instrumentation.


Grade Level GB: 3-4
Grade Level USA: 2 (Easy)
Composer: Vlak, Kees
Genre: Ballad, Solo, Solo for Flugelhorn
Performance time: 5,45
Publisher: Rundel
Size: DIN A4
Info: Full Score + Condensed Score + Parts
Rundel Order Number: MVSR2511
Release Date: 2007