DrakenVuur
Inspired by the Dutch folktale “Wichardsage” (from The Sagas of Veluwe), DrakenVuur tells the story of a deadly fire-breathing dragon that lived under a medlar tree devouring every living creature it encountered. Nearby, Wichard was in love with Margaret and asked her father for her hand in marriage. Her father said he needed to prove himself worthy, so the disappointed, yet determined, Wichard set o to slay the dragon. As Wichard was defeating the dragon, the creature bellowed a terrible scream that sounded like “Gelre! Gelre!” Wichard rode in victory back to marry Margaret and built a castle on the site of the medlar tree battle and named it “Gelre,” which would later become Gelderland.
Medium: Percussion Ensemble (15-21 players)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Composed: 2021
Duration: 8:40
Difficulty: Advanced
Commission: Cadenza Twello, Robbert Houtkamp (The Netherlands)
Instrumentation
Bells 1 / Crotales (2 octaves)
Bells 2 / Xylophone
Bells 3 [optional]
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Vibraphone 3 [optional]
Chimes
Marimba 1 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 3 (5-octave)
Marimba 4 (5-octave)
Marimba 5 (5-octave) [optional]
Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Small Ribbon Crasher, Suspended Cymbal, Bongos, Concert Snare Drum, Field Drum, Hi-Hat, Bell Tree
Percussion 2: Large Ribbon Crasher, China Cymbal, 2 Congas, 4 Concert Toms
Percussion 3: Tam-Tam [shared], Multi-Bass Drum, Concert Bass Drum
Percussion 4: Sizzle Ride, Cymbal Stack, Ride Cymbal, China Cymbal, Tam-Tam [shared]
Percussion 5: Rainstick, Woodblock, 2 Brake Drums
Percussion 6 & 7 [optional]: 2 Low Concert Toms, Suspended Cymbal
(two or more players with identical set-ups positioned antiphonally)
Percussion 8 [optional]: Claves, Deep Lion's Roar (optional amplification)
Program Notes
DrakenVuur was commissioned by Robbert Houtkamp and Cadenza Twello (The Netherlands) to compete in the 2022 World Music Contest.
