Spritz

Peaceful piano pieces composed during a trip across Europe, from Paris to Kyiv, with tracks about places in France, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine & more

Amsterdam

Checkmate Queen*

Fin du printemps

A dark spell breaks

Wound Up/Unwind - Unwind for String Quartet and Hand Pan
Written: 2025
Total Duration: 10'
for string quartet and percussion (cajón with pedal and handpan—D Kurd 10: D) A, B-flat, C, D, E, F, G, A, C )
Commissioned by FAB5 quintet with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
World Premiere: FAB5, Mostly Modern Festival | The Netherlands, Oostkerk, Middelburg, Middelburg, Zeeland, The Netherlands, May 2, 2025
US Premiere: Mostly Modern Festival. FAB5, Mostly Modern Festival, Arthur Zankel Music Center, Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 18, 2026
Publisher: Bill Holab Music
For More Information: https://robertpaterson.com/wound-up-unwind
VIdeo: https://youtu.be/RPyXPYx-nuo


PROGRAM NOTE
For many years, my wife Victoria and her FAB5 quintet (string quartet and percussion), have entertained thousands of people at numerous performance spaces and travel hubs in New York City, including Moynihan Train Hall, Oculus World Trade Center, Javits Center, and Chelsea Market. Having seen many of their shows, especially those at travel hubs, there's a certain tension and release you experience watching people wait anxiously for their trains, and then the release they feel when they are finally on their way. I've had these experiences myself, so I wanted to create two pieces that emulate these feelings.

Wound Up/Unwind consists of two contrasting pieces for string quartet and percussion. The first, Wound Up, for string quartet and cajón, imitates the feeling of being worried, anxious, and frustrated, especially while waiting to board a train. The second, Unwind, for string quartet and handpan, is calm and soothing, perhaps emulating the satisfying feeling of relaxing in a quiet seat as the train leaves the station. Both pieces can be performed independently and in any order.

Wound Up/Unwind is written for and commissioned by the FAB5 quintet with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Unwind for String Quartet and Hand Pan

Lift your wings

Forsen is swedish for the rapids. To me it's something calm about it. The nature, the water, the sounds. It's also a  childhood memory when playing in the woods. This classical piece has a touch of swedish folk music which, I think strengthens the emotion.

Forsen

Guineveres Song

Our story begins with Jorrit disembarking at Boston Harbor with the ambition to give up life on the sea.
He's a salty ol' dog and it might be a difficult transition but his mission is to make it to the west coast of the United States.
Jorrit has some wild adventures and drunken debauchery in Boston before eventually making his way west into Pennsylvania where he buys a used Conestoga wagon and a team of horses
and sails off into the sunset towards his new life.

Hailing from Vondelingenplaat Netherlands, Jorrit Brouwer, son of a brew master, is frightened of large four legged animals because as a child he was kicked by a drunken donkey.

Conestoga Schooner - The Drunken Sailor Song

This is the first movement of a piece for flute, viola and cello. The different movements have an unusual scale to obtain a great variation in expression and experience. The recording is close and intimate to draw the listener into the music.

Trio for Flute, Viola and Cello

Trio for Flute, Viola and Cello - Part I: Whole Tones Impression

Retired music teacher and composer from Flanders (Belgium). Founder and conductor of De Kleine Compagnie. Composer of orchestral/symphonic music, religious songs, theater music; arranger of a large number folk tunes and dances.

I prefer to write in a classical or romantic style, avoiding to use experimental musical languages in order to reach a broad audience. A number of the orchestral pieces have already been performed live (by a large orchestra).

To listen to my pieces here, the use of headphones is recommended.

Have a pleasant listen!

Trio for Flute, Viola and Cello - Part I: Whole Tones Impression

Jos Wylin