Kevin Houben

Guardian Angels

Guardian Angels gives a musical expression to the legend of Reverend Louis Henri Bähler referring to the use of Psalm 34.

North-west Veluwe and in particular Oldebroek (The Netherlands) has a very rich religious tradition which is demonstrated by its monumental churches. They tell the story of a stirring history in which Reverend Bähler played a crucial role. Inspired by his arrival as a pastor in 1870 in the neighbouring Oosterwolde, two big religious communities came into existence with their characteristic churches but this rivalry also resulted in great social unrest.

This composition reflects on this striking personality and in particular on the story of the Angel Guard.

'One evening Reverend Bähler has given a sermon in Oldebroek and he walks over the Church path through the pastures to Oosterwolde. On this dark and stormy evening Bähler's opponents are waiting for the pastor in ambush. They want to drown him in a watercourse near the Church path but abandon their plan because Bähler is accompanied by two men. The next day it comes to an encounter between Bähler and his opponents. They repent their, fortunately unexecuted , plan. Bähler firmly believes that on the previous night he walked alone over the Church path, and was not accompanied by two men. It was concluded that it must have been the angels who had protected Bähler.'

Psalm 34 is central to this composition and this because of its powerful melody but also because the lyrics of verse 4 of the rhymed version fit in well with the special legend of Reverend Bähler:

The Lord's angel gathered round him
An invincible heavenly guard,
Who tries God's will, around him
So he's well guard(ed)

A second melodious and harmonic cell is a musical transformation of the name 'Bähler'. This cell is varied in major and minor third chords and sometimes used as the main idea or apotheosis, but also serves as an accompanying cell or as a bridge between other melodic and rhythmic constructions.

The composition was made possible by contributions of: Mr Evert van de Poll, owner of the Van Gelder Groep, Het Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Gelderland en Het Feteris Oosterbaan Fonds.