Jacqueline Fontyn

Aratoro I

The title 'Aratoro' was chosen in remembrance of the composer's trip to New Zealand in 1991. In the Maori language 'Ara' means path, 'Toro', to explore or to dicover. The work is comprised of six parts which follow each other without interruption, except for the marked contrast bewteen the third and fourth section at which place one finds 'the golden section'. The Introduction gives way to a solo on the alto saxophone, after which the music becomes more lively, moving onwards to a climax, which ends abruptly. Then comes some very quite free playing leading to a melodic line played 'unisono' by most of the woodwinds. Keyboard instruments - piano, marimba and glockenspiel - take over the final part before the Coda which recreates the atmosphere of the beginning of the piece. Aratora was completed on 6 September 1992 after six to seven months work and was composed at the request of the 'Amsterdam Blazers Collectief' and its president Jan Stroop. This composition was commissioned by the NCRV Radio in Hilversum. It was premiered by the 'Amsterdams Blazers Collectief' conducted by Jean Gruter on December 9, 1993.