Border Zone

In three connected movements, Border Zone tells a musical story about the Dutch village of Dinxperlo, which lies near the German border, in a region called the Achterhoek. The version of this composition for accordion ensemble is named “Sketches of Dinsper”, arranged by Foppe Jacobi.

The first movement begins with the Race of the Batavians, a student relay from the University of Nijmegen to that of Twente, which, after a route through Germany, crosses the border at Dinxperlo again. This theme is continued with adventurous and exciting measures in which the smugglers who used to be active on both sides of the border are featured.

 In the second movement, the annual procession in Dinxperlo is expressed musically. The third movement starts with the lively sounds of the border market that takes place every year on Ascension Day.

The festivities are continued with chorale-like sounds – based on the smallest church in the Netherlands, a place of interest. Both elements lead the work to a catchy ending.