Kevin Houben

Apatheia

Commissioned by WMC Kerkrade (NL) Dedicated to my dear friend and inspiration: Maestro Tijmen Botma The title APATHEIA has its origins in Stoicism and is aptly described in the international bestseller Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. The Stoics did not seek fame or material success, but inner peace: the absence of negative emotions such as fear, shame and anger and the presence of positive feelings such as love, gratitude, serenity and happiness. This state of balance, apatheia, is at the core of this composition. The work begins with a mysterious cell – a musical motif that runs like a red thread through the entire composition. This cell grows and transforms organically, forming the breeding ground for lyrical unfolding. Soloistic lines gradually unfold the thematic material, with subtle references to the following, more signal-like part. Here, technical and tonal challenges are not shied away from, but are always at the service of musical expressiveness. From bar 44 onwards, the work enters a multi-layered and grandiose phase. This passage, in which different tempos, independent lines and ad libitum elements come together, offers the conductor plenty of room for interpretation and personal design. The structure and freedom are reminiscent of Percy Grainger's Lincolnshire Posy, ensuring that each performance is unique. Conductors often describe such passages as the moments when "the young lads are distinguished from the real men". The middle section of the composition is undoubtedly the emotional heart of the work. In this passage, the listener is transported into a world of deep sensitivity and expressiveness. From an intimate atmosphere, a powerful, melodic structure gradually develops, culminating in a gripping climax, carried by the entire instrumentation. This lyrical outburst, rich in color and sound, forms a moment of catharsis – a musical breath in which emotion, beauty and inner peace come together. The combination of transparent textures and warm harmonies makes this part an intensely tangible core moment within the work. With APATHEIA, I want to create not only a musical journey, but also an inner one. The work is written with love for lyricism, depth and instrumentation and is dedicated with deep respect to Tijmen Botma – a friend, an inspirer and a musical spirit who knows how to embody this state of serenity like no other.