Henk van Lijnschooten

Rhapsody Fan Fryslan

(Rhapsody from Friesland)Friesland (Fryslân in the Frisian language) does not only have its own language but it also boasts a very rich own culture with many folk songs sometimes dating from many centuries. This rhapsody is based on a number of those songs and from a stylistic viewpoint it is related to the famous Rhapsody from the Low Countries by the same composer.A solemn introduction is followed by a merry dancing song (De Boalserter merke) and a second, rather melancholic, theme (It Aldershûs). Then we hear a short choral with a melody from the sixteenth century. The next theme has the character of a barcarole and is usually attributed to Mozart (Wâldsang). The finale is a kind of tarantella and asks for quite some virtuosity from the band (Yn 'e Snitser merke).