Unity

The first great poet I really knew was my maternal grandfather.  While his passion was caring for his congregation as a minister, poetry was his greatest gift.  His poems were beautifully written, moving and spilled straight out of his heart to be shared with others.

One of my most treasured possessions is a small book of poetry with just a fraction of his work.  In that book, there are poems written for friends going through dark times after the loss of a child, joyous verses written for his 50th wedding anniversary, and works revealing how much he was moved by daily life and his extensive travel to places near and far.

This composition is written not only for my grandfather, but for poets past and present, who share their hearts with us all.

The Poet

Chanson de Matin
This rather obscure work for chamber-orchestra by Elgar is a real gem in a musical sense. This work was among the favourite ones of the founder of our firm Pieter Jan Molenaar. As a tribute to him we present this version for windband. 'Chanson de Matin' is a melodious almost nostalgic little work, in a warm and sonorous orchestral texture. The warm and noble original orchestra-score has been the basis for the Concertband arrangement and this guarantees that the original character will be preserved throughout the work.

https://www.molenaar.com/details/1/7164/en

Chanson De Matin (Arr. Johan de Meij) - Edward Elgar

MY GIRLS (LE MIE RAGAZZE)

O Girassol Mecânico

Romance

Escapism

Small album containing my four nocturnes which I wrote long time ago.

Nocturne No.4

Angels and Demons” is an immersive orchestral journey that transports you into an epic cinematic world—where light and shadow collide in a sweeping tapestry of sound. From the very first string tremolo, you’ll feel the tension of divine conflict unfold: soaring brass fanfares beckon the celestial host, while brooding low strings and ominous percussion signal the rise of darker forces. Each track is crafted like its own mini-film sequence, with lush woodwind melodies interwoven alongside thunderous timpani and choral whispers that evoke both awe and dread.

Imagine cathedral-sized halls where choirs chant in Latin, only to be interrupted by demonic growls of brass and swirling tremolos that seem to echo from the abyss. Moments of fragile serenity—harp arpeggios, solo violin laments—remind us of hope, even as the undercurrents of bassoons and contrabass pulse like a heartbeat in the void. Throughout the album, dynamic crescendos build toward transcendent climaxes, then collapse into intimate, shadowed interludes that leave you suspended between worlds.

Whether you close your eyes and see angels locked in battle or feel the demons lurking just beyond the score, “Angels and Demons” delivers a cinematic experience that’s as grand as it is haunting. Press play, let the full orchestra wash over you, and journey through the eternal struggle of light and darkness.

Angels and Demons

Guardian of Hope

Quatuor à cordes n°1 en Ré Majeur - 3 - Moderato

Saturation

"Intermezzo," 1969, by Jeraldine Saunders Herbison, b. 1941, USA, Piece No. 13 from Music by Black Composers, Flute Volume 1.

Created in partnership with the National Flute Association. (https://www.nfaonline.org/)

Music by Black Composers is a project of the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation. For more information, please visit www.musicbyblackcomposers.org/ and www.rbpfoundation.org/.

Dr. Paula Gudmundson, flute
Dr. Diana Shapiro, piano

Donald Schraugnagel, post-session producer and engineer

MBC Flute 1-13, Herbison - "Intermezzo" (FLUTE AND PIANO)

Home-made tunes, rhythms and pulses of a digital palette. Whistle along.

Unity

Peter McDonnell