The Musical Village
About The Musical Village
Jacob de Haan called this composition The Musical Village. The word “musical” also represents the style and the vocal influence that the work is based on. Like in a musical, the most varying atmospheres in The Musical Village pass in revue. Dreamy passages are alternated with festive and swinging fragments; lyrical themes are also included.
The main motif in the composition is a sort of triangle motif, which occurs in various themes. It symbolizes the three lines in the landscape connected to the village Schalkwijk (the Netherlands) that served as a model for this composition – namely a canal, a river, and a railroad.
The Musical Village closes with a proud, exuberant and masterly theme, of which the initial notes also form the triangle motif. This concluding theme represents the thought “our village is our home”.
Performance Note
At a performance of this composition, it is very well possible to show film images of the village of the band concerned, because the atmospheric themes reflect various aspects of village life – such as the beauty, the peace and quiet, and nature around the village. Also, images of a parade or local festivities fit certain passages. Furthermore, there is a stately moment that could accompany images of a remembrance day, for example. The Charleston in vaudeville style is suitable to go with old black-and-white images of the village.