Rob Goorhuis

The Battle Of Varlar

This overture was written in 1997 as a commission by the De Bildt (Holland) municipality on the occasion of the 800 years anniversary of its German sister-town Coesfeld (Germany), to which the work was subsequently presented as a gift on its completion. 'The Battle of Varlar' was premiered on the 30th of November 1997 at Coesfeld. The work calls to mind an important event from Coesfeld's history: the battle of Varlar, which took place in the year 1454 between the troops of Walraf von Moors lead by Konrad von Diepholz and those of Johann von Hoya with Frederic the Duke of Brunswick as their commander. The battle was won by the former but more than 2000 people were killed on the Varlar moors. The composition presents us with a bird's eye view of the events of the year 1454. First of all, the consecration of the chapel on the Klinkenberg mountain is set to music in a hymn, after which the trumpets and trombones announce the imminent battle. In the subsequent fray not only the sounds of sabres and rapiers can clearly be heard but also the wailing of the wounded. When the Duke of Brunswick is wounded and captured by the troops of Walraf, Konrad von Diepen and his men march on Coesfeld in victory. Set against a festive melody, the hymn resounds in full glory.