The Saba Adventure
On July 17, 1993, the official world premiere of my first composition for fanfare orchestra took place during the World Music Competition in Kerkrade, The Netherlands. 'The Saba Adventure' was performed on that day in the Rodahal by Fanfare Orchestra Psalm 150 Dinxperlo conducted by Bart van den Brink in the Concert Division. Psalm 150 als commissioned the composition. It is already 30 years ago that 'The Saba Adventure' received such a wonderful world premiere. After this premiere, the work has been performed many times and appeared on various CDs. In the following 30 years I left the work untouched, but over time the desire arose to change a number of things in the instrumentation, articulation, dynamic and harmony. In the end, a revised version for fanfare orchestra of 'The Saba Adventure' was created that on first hearing does not differ much from the very first edition, despite hundreds of changes. In addition the the desire to revise the work, there had also been the desire for a long time to make a version for wind band / concert band. Not only was that my own wish, but in the 30 years since the creation of 'The Saba Adventure' the question was very often asked wether it was possible to make a version for wind band / concert band. After revising the original version, I immediately made a version for wind band.
Specifications
About the composer
Joop van Dijk
Joop van Dijk (Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1961) studied bass tuba, contrabass trombone and conducting at the Utrecht Conservatorium from 1978 to 1984. From 1980 to 1995 he was a member of the ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble and the Dutch Brass Sextet (Hague Brass Sextet). He also worked as freelance tuba and contrabass player with all the Dutch symphony orchestras and professional ensembles. From 1987 to 2014 he was solo tuba player, composer and arranger with the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy. As a composer, Joop van Dijk is self-taught. He is specialized in composing for brass band, concert band and fanfare orchestra. Many of his compositions have been used as compulsory works in national and international concert competitions and have been recorded on CD. Many of his compositions for wind band have been premiered by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, such as 'Nightwatch in Tivoli', 'The Great Dutchman', 'Prelude on the Navy Hymn', 'Sea of Songs', 'The Commodore's Crown' and the 'March Past for the King'. 'A Nightingale still singing' (2001), 'Celebration' (2004) and 'From San Marco Quarter' (2021) were used as compulsory works at the Dutch Brass Band Championships. For the European Brass Band Championships, Joop van Dijk composed 'Fantasy for Brass Band' (1997) and 'Light in the Darkness' (2012). In 2014 'National Australia Brass' conducted by David King premiered his composition 'Eternal'. Joop van Dijk has also composed a large number of works for fanfare orchestra. The best known of these are 'The Saba adventure', 'The Saba Encounters', 'Sinfonietta', 'Noormannen op de Vecht', 'Een Dag in de Heerlijkheid Wittem' and 'Two sketches'. All these works for fanfare orchestra were frequently used as compulsory works in national and international concert competitions. Besides composing, Joop van Dijk also works as a teacher, jury member and conductor. Joop van Dijk (Utrecht, 1961) studeerde bastuba, contrabastrombone en directie aan het Utrechts Conservatorium van 1978 tot 1984. Van 1980 tot 1995 maakte hij deel uit van het ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble en het Dutch Brass Sextet (Haags Koper Sextet). Daarnaast was hij als freelance tubaïst en contrabastrombonist werkzaam bij alle Nederlandse symfonie orkesten. Van 1987 tot 2014 was hij solo tubaïst, componist en arrangeur bij de Marinierskapel der Koninklijke Marine. Als componist is Joop van Dijk autodidact. Hij is gespecialiseerd in het componeren voor brassband, harmonie orkest en fanfare orkest. Veel van zijn composities werden gebruikt als verplichte werken bij nationale en internationale concertwedstrijden en werden opgenomen op CD. Veel van zijn composities voor harmonie orkest werden door de Marinierskapel der Koninklijke Marine in première gebracht zoals ‘Nachtwacht in Tivoli’, ‘The Great Dutchman’, ‘Prelude on the Navy Hymn’, ‘Sea of Songs’, ‘The Commodore’s Crown’ en de ‘Defileermars voor de Koning’. Deze laatstgenoemde mars componeerde hij in opdracht t.b.v. de troonswisseling in Nederland op 30 april 2013. ‘A Nightingale still singing’ (2001), ‘Celebration’ (2004) en ‘From San Marco Quarter’ (2021) werden gebruikt als verplicht werk bij de Nederlandse Brassband Kampioenschappen. Voor de Europese Brassband Kampioenschappen componeerde Joop van Dijk ‘Fantasy for Brass Band’ (1997) en ‘Light in the Darkness’ (2012). In 2014 bracht ‘National Australia Brass’ o.l.v. David King zijn compositie ‘Eternal’ in première. Ook voor fanfare orkest componeerde Joop van Dijk een groot aantal werken. De bekendste daarvan zijn ‘The Saba adventure’, ‘The Saba Encounters’, ‘Sinfonietta’, ‘Noormannen op de Vecht’, ‘Een dag in de Heerlijkheid Wittem’ en ‘Two sketches’. Al deze werken voor fanfare orkest werden veelvuldig gebruikt als verplicht werk bij nationale en internationale concertwedstrijden. Naast het componeren is Joop van Dijk ook werkzaam als docent, jurylid en dirigent.