Werner van Cleemput

On The Village Green

Almost any village or town in Flanders boasts an inn called 'Under the Clock Tower'. This composition describes the atmosphere of the musical life in the village, concentrated around the market place or the ... village green.I. To play under the trees: A quiet, charming evocation.II. To play for the landlady and her daughter: The older musicians do their utmost to please the mother, whereas the youngsters try to draw the attention of her daughter.III. To play at the annual Saint Cecilia Festivities: This is festive music, sometimes solemn, sometimes caustic, always light and fresh; towards the end there is a strong enlargement and a stretto. This work was selected by the Belgian Radio for the 1977 ERU Contest in Yougoslavia and was performed by the Belgian Gendarmerie Band conducted by Roland Cardon.