Jan van der Roost

Sonoritas

The work Sonoritas was commissioned by the Kaohsiung City Wind Orchestra, a professional wind orchestra from Taiwan, and premiered on September 10, 2023 at the beautiful Kaohsiung Weiwuying Concert Hall under the direction of the composer. This impressive hall houses the largest concert organ in Asia, which inspired the composer to include this majestic instrument in the composition – albeit ad libitum. Therefore, all important passages were also written for woodwind or brass instruments, so that the work can be performed with or without the organ. The title Sonoritas describes the musical content of the piece: the rich timbres of the wind orchestra and the organ come into their own in this dynamic composition. A chorale melody with extended chords opens the work and culminates in a driving theme presented by the brass instruments in different voices. The woodwinds, in turn, introduce a virtuoso, saltarello-like theme, followed by a development with all these thematic elements in various forms and combinations. The work ends magnificently with an organ-like finale and a sonorous final chord as a climax, which concludes this wonderful sound piece with its extended lines and full harmonies, as well as rhythmic and technical fireworks.