Governor William V of Orange had a court composer…
C.E. Gra(a)f: symphony, string quartet, quintets of contemporaries
Flute, 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 violins, viola, cello, contrabass (10-11 performers)
With: Gottfrid van Eck, narrator (on request)
The first composer at the Dutch court, Christian Ernst Graaf (1723-1804) is the main topic of this musical journey. Even at that tin the Dutch seemed to think “what comes from far is always better”. Just like with professional soccer players and artists, nowadays. In 1767 Graaf was appointed “Compositeur et directeur de la Musique du Prince”. As a German, he dulcified his name, to show how very well assimilated he was. We do not know if this was a good decision: to ask for more salary, he begged his patron with a tetter in rhyme, probably without result.
He experienced turbulent times in the Netherlands, where a revolution took place “á la Révolution Française”. The Batavian Republic was established. Graaf did not survive the conquest of the new republic by the French under Napoleon. His colleagues and contemporaries in our concert program, suffered under the French occupier, though. In 1814 the kingdom of the Netherlands is born, when William Frederick, son of ex-governor William V is crowned as William I.
Details: using music and quotes from these turbulent times, a celebrity narrator takes you on a journey through the history of the royalties of Orange.
Duration: approx. 75’ with interval
Pricing: please, contact us to discuss the possibilities
