related works
Winter cruise : opera in three acts / Hans Henkemans
Genre:
Opera, musical theatre
Subgenre:
Opera
Scoring:
7soloists 3343 4431 timp 3perc cel man 2hp pf str actors
Diposorpos : voor blokfluitkwartet, dwarsfluit en strijkers, 1967 / Will Eisma
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
4rec 1000 0000 str
Sonatine : voor orkest, 1978 / Herman Strategier
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
2222 2200 timp str
Exodus; X a la France : pour orchestre / Israel Olman
Genre:
Orchestra
Subgenre:
Orchestra
composition
Barcarola fantastica : per orchestra, 1962 / Hans Henkemans
Author(s):
Henkemans, Hans
(Composer)
Description:
Program note (English): The Barcarola Fantastica was the result of a commission received on the occasion of the centenary of the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra, Groningen, The Netherlands.
The composition has been scored for normal large orchestra, to wich has been added an alto-flute as only unusual instrument. On the steady rhythms of 6/8 and 9/8 beats -the rhythms of the Barcarola, the Venetian gondola-song- the composition develops as a fantasia on the two principal motives of themes, the first of which is heard, after some introductory bars, in the flute and alto-flute; the second, immediately following upon the first, is played unisono by 'cellos and bass-clarinet.
It is in no way important to try and follow the formal and technical developments in order to appreciate the composition. A thorough-going elucidation would, therefore, seem redundant.
The only aspect of the structure, worth mentioning, is perhaps the relation between the rhythm pattern and the "undulating" course of the dynamics: the composition might, without much effort, be subdivided into five dynamic episodes, of which the the second and fourth are "summits", while the first, third and fifth proceed in a sound-volume not exceeding mezzo-piano.
All other, more artistic observations, are left to the listener, guided by his own fantasy and intuition. - HANS HENKEMANS