Utopia

Utopia is the name of a book written by the English author Thomas More and was published in 1516. The title is a word thought up by More himself, after the Greek language, meaning “Nowhereland” and leading to the invention of the words utopian scheme and utopian.

Utopia pictured an ideal state on an island far from the inhabited world. This idea was the basis of the composition. Jacob de Haan was also inspired by the dramatic gestures and vocal qualities that make opera and incorporated this into his work.

Utopia therefor consists of two short movements with a combination of styles that breathe the atmosphere of film music. The slow and stirring middle part is close to the European romanticism: the chord signals in the brass section remind of Wagner’s music.