Eric Swiggers

The Saints And the Royal

The Saints and the Royal was composed on behalf of Royal brass band St. Willibrord Heeswijk on the occasion of its 200th anniversary in 2023. When the marching band was founded in 1823, it was given the name "Harmonie Sint Cecilia," referring to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Around 1904, the name was changed to 'Kerkelijke fanfare Willibrord', strongly emphasizing the connection with the church in Heeswijk, of which Saint Willibrord is the patron saint. In 1973, at its 150th anniversary, the band received the predicate 'royal'. From that time on one speaks of the Royal brass band Saint Willibrord. The composition musically depicts both Saints Saint Cecilia and Saint Willibrord and the jubilee royal brass band. Although one of the oldest musical societies in the Netherlands, this fanfare is alive and kicking and will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2023. The composition therefore opens festively and energetically. The alto saxophone plays a recitative, the Gregorian "Cantantibus organis Caecilia virgo in corde suo soli domino decantabat" from the vespers of the feast day of Saint Caecilia, the patron saint of music. This is taken over by the full wood and soft brass group. After a brief, playful interlude, this chant is played by the full orchestra, like an organ, larded with circumambulations. St. Willibord was born in England but made the crossing to the Netherlands in 690 to preach the gospel as a missionary. This was far from harmless and he faced frequent uprisings. After his death he was buried in Echternach in Luxembourg. In this place he is commemorated to this day with the annual "Spring Procession" or "Dance Procession". This procession of Echternach went as follows until 1947: 3 steps forward, 2 steps backward. Hence we hear this procession back in a 5/8 measure: 3 + 2. After this procession, the Gregorian vesper of Sint Caecilia sounds one more time, leading the composition to a reprise of the opening: The jubilee Royal Fanfare Sint Willibord Heeswijk.