Projects (2003-present)
Click on the emphasised and underlined names below, in order to go to their respective sections.
Mary Jane (band) (Groningen, The Netherlands): Violin and cello part for Anna Ternheim's "A French Love". [2010]
Joint project with Arjen Schippers (Groningen, The Netherlands): (Currently untitled) [2010-present]
Septæder (band) (Groningen, The Netherlands): Additional music [2008-present]
Music for Piano Trio (Oegstgeest, The Netherlands): The Passage of Time [2008]
G.S.M.G. Bragi (Groningen, Netherlands): 'Ouverture Royale' [Royal Overture] for symphony orchestra and concert choir [2006-2007]
Charles Belfor (own initiative): Pièces en concert pour huit violoncelles (PECPHV) or 'Concert Pieces for Eight Cellos' [2005, revised in 2006 and 2008]
Het Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest (Netherlands): Antigone [2003-2004]
Violin and cello part for Anna Ternheim's "A French Love"
The singer of the local band "Mary Jane" asked me to arrange a violin part to go along with Anna Ternheim's "A French Love". I was able to compose the violin part within a few days, thanks to
a good recording of the original song. The violin part consists out of musical ideas from the original, as well as those of my own. I also composed a cello part during the first rehearsal of the song, while composer/guitarist Eric Leenes provided a guitar arrangement based on the original song.
This arrangement would've been performed on March 5, 2010, but the first concert has been cancelled due to circumstances. We will try our best to provide you with a decent recording a.s.a.p. and will probably perform it live at a later date.
Performers/musicians: Marije Hijlkema (singer), Eric Leenes (guitar), Rogier Meijer (violin) and Charles Belfor (cello).
(This section will be updated)
Joint project - Arjen Schippers & Charles Belfor
Ever since we started exchanging musical ideas, Arjen Schippers and I felt that we should organise some sort of joint project or effort. After some consideration, we decided it
was time to make those ideas reality in December 2009 and onwards. The main idea is to compose works for piano and cello, in which the cello part will be composed by one of us, while the other one
focusses on composing the piano part. This synergetic project will be completed later on this year. I'll try my best to keep you up-to-date on its overall progress.
More information about Arjen Schippers' music can be found at the following website:
http://www.sleutelbos.com
(This section will be updated)
Additional music - Septæder (band)
Even though I have worked with individual band members here and there, I never (formally) joined a band as an actual member. In November 2008, I actually decided to join an 'experimental and acoustic' band named Septæder (Septaeder), after listening to some of their songs.
I was drawn towards the music's extraordinary form and sound and I felt that I could contribute something to the songs as well. I was given the freedom to write my own parts for each of the existing songs; a sense of freedom I appreciate a lot.
After our first performance on February 22, 2009, we realised that our band and our music holds great potential. The crowd seemed to like the music and reacted rather enthusiastically to it, regardless of the unorthodox instrumentation and the music's overall length.
As far as I'm concerned, this will be a long-term project with a lot of output.
More information can be found at the following webpage:
http://www.myspace.com/septaeder
(This section will be updated)
The Passage of Time - Piano Trio
While having a chat with Daniel Melton, the cellist of a newly formed piano trio, he informed me about a retirement ceremony in September 2008.
He subsequently asked me if I could write a piece for that particular ceremony, as they are going to play several pieces for it. I was given a carte blanche, which enabled me
to freely choose what I would see fit for such an occasion. I decided on trying to grasp the overall feeling of reminiscing. Looking at all the good memories and, of course, the memories we'd like to forget.
The Passage of Time depicts a fairly old person, sitting in a rocking chair on a porch, while looking at the horizon during sunset. The person thinks about life and all he/she has been through up until now.
In order to get the effect I wanted, I mainly used the piano mainly for moving through time periods, slowly reflecting on how things went and how life was back then.
On the other hand, the violin and cello were used for the manifestation of the person's feelings. The listener might notice that each of the melodic or accompanying lines
are intertwined, indicating that certain events have had an influence on the person in question.
"The Passage of Time", Music for Piano Trio-
Duration: 4m 01s [MP3] (June/July 2008)
I will try my best to provide you with a decent live-recording. I am still trying to optimalise the sound of the recording I have now, but
it will be difficult to get it right. I will probably record it once more when the piece is performed in the (near) future. I will also try my best to get this particular piece
published, so that more piano trios and audiences can enjoy the sound of it.
Note: This piece was performed
for the first time on September 6, 2008 in Oegstgeest (The Netherlands).
(This section will be updated)
Ouverture Royale (Royal Overture) - Symphony Orchestra (and Concert Choir)
One of my latest orchestral works is an overture for full symphony orchestra and concert choir. It is called "Ouverture Royale" (O.R.) and it was completed in May 2006. I did, however, revise it multiple times; I've done that in August 2006, September 2006, November 2006 and January/February 2007. I personally consider August's version to be the first. The one from May was the ground work for the piece, in my opinion. Anyway, I've composed this piece for the 125th (Quasquicentennial) anniversary of G.S.M.G. Bragi, a Dutch student music club.
Bragi was founded on the 26th of April, 1882 in Groningen, The Netherlands. At first, it wasn't exactly my intention to compose a piece for both a symphony orchestra and a concert choir, but the lustrum committee thought it would be nice to make use of the lyrics
of an old 'club song', which was written somewhere around the 1890s. As the melody had disappeared somewhere along the 20th century, I decided to adapt the lyrics and tried to fit them on top of the melody which I had composed.
Bragi rehearsed the first version on the January 15, 2007. I conducted it myself and tried to assess whether or not the first version would be suitable for a concert. The main issue
during that rehearsal was, in fact, the lack of brass; the trumpets had a very prominent role in the piece, but were undermanned at the time. The woodwinds seemed to have trouble being heard, as they weren't orchestrated so densely.
As I discussed the problems with one of the conductors at a later date, he presented me with the same problems, but he also felt that the piece was too long and tends to get a little bit boring at some point. I carefully took his comments into account
and decided to rework the first version. I replaced the intro with a more 'regal' one and I attempted to create an atmosphere of something moving forward through time, like Bragi has done over the past years. This led me towards the completion of O.R. version 6a; the latest version.
The file below represents the latest version of 'Ouverture Royale'. Please keep in mind that not all of the instruments may sound as they are supposed to, as it is in fact a glorified Midi-file.
The orchestration for O.R. is as follows:
1 piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 B flat clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 F horns, 3 B flat trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 tuba, concert choir, timpani, percussion, strings.
Ouverture Royale (v. 6a)-
Duration: 5m 32s [MP3] (2007)
I've conducted both the orchestra and the concert choir during the second rehearsal, in order to make sure everything fitted together. Unlike during the previous rehearsal, the brass section was completely present. Sadly, the woodwinds section was missing at that time, but it didn't really matter in the end. We got to hear how it sounds and I was able to evaluate whether or not the concert choir was able to sing their part.
"Ouverture Royale" would have been performed on the 26th of May, 2007 in Groningen (The Netherlands) during a festival which celebrated 180 years of student concerts. Sadly, this project has been cancelled due to artistic differences between the executive committee of G.S.M.G. Bragi and I. This is, of course, the worst case scenario for any composer, regardless of being professional or an amateur.
Even though 'Ouverture Royale' will not be performed any time soon, I have had fun by learning more
about the capabilities of a concert choir and a symphony orchestra. I will take the experiences with me as I obtain more knowledge about composing music.
Pièces en concert pour huit violoncelles - Cello Octet
Status: Recording.
ON HOLD!
(This section will be updated)
Antigone - The Rijnlands Lyceum Ensemble
During the school year of 2003-2004, The Rijnlands Lyceum (Oegstgeest) -my former high school- performed yet another school play
at its auditorium. It was a play called 'Antigone' that year and it was the fifth play in which I joined the orchestra as a cellist.
I've participated in the orchestras for Oedipus (2000), West Side Story (2001), MacBeth (2002), Hair (2003), Antigone (2004) and Saturday Night Fever (2005).
The play of the year 2004 was slightly different for me, because I wanted to test my musical composition skills.
After some consideration, I asked the head composer and orchestrater, Gerwin van der Werf,
if I could write a musical piece for 'Antigone'. He approved after listening to my compositions in MIDI format and after examining the compositions which
I had printed out for him.
Antigone, a play named after the main character, mainly revolves around the final days of Antigone's life. She opposed the law, by burying her brother, who was in fact considered a traitor in Thebes.
My assignment was to capture the moment in which she held her last monologue to the world. She held her monologue before she was led away to be imprisoned inside of a cave.
Sample from: "Antigone's Last Monologue"-
Duration: 1m 13s [MP3, live recording] (April 2004)
Before I got to the version above, I made 3 other versions in order to find out what could work with such a scene. Each of those versions have similar orchestrations, but the first 2 sound entirely different from the end result.
The orchestration for 'Antigone's Last Monologue' #1 & #2 is as follows:
2 flutes, 1 soprano sax, 1 alto sax, 1 B flat trumpet, 1 trombone, drums, bass guitar, piano, synth voice, strings.
The MIDI file below displays the first version (#1) of 'Antigone's Last Monologue' (ALM), but it didn't convey the feelings I wanted it to convey. I wanted it present the overall feeling of sorrow & heroism. In order to find out if a different key would
make a difference, I decided to transpose it.
Antigone's Last Monologue #1-
Duration: 3m 01s [MIDI] (November 2003)
Will be replaced with Soundfont!
The file below is ALM version #2, which is in fact a transposed version of the one above.
Antigone's Last Monologue #2-
Duration: 3m 01s [MIDI] (November 2003)
Will be replaced with Soundfont!
Later on, after finishing the previous 2 compositions,
I decided to rewrite the pieces entirely, as they didn't quite match the scene that was assigned to me. In that particular scene, Antigone
tells everyone that she is ready to die for what she has done and she alone is responsible for her acts. She knew from the very beginning that
she would be killed or banned if she decided to bury her brother, who was considered as a traitor by Creon. I tried to use most of the Antigone theme at the end of ALM #1 & #2, as I felt it suited her character.
I began reworking it and, eventually, I ended up with ALM #3 & #4.
The orchestration for ALM #3 & #4 is as follows:
2 flutes, 1 soprano sax, 1 alto sax, 1 B flat trumpet, 1 B flat cornet (omitted), 1 trombone, harp, bass guitar, piano, synth voice, strings.
The MIDI file below represents the third version of 'Antigone's Last Monologue'. This one uses the reworked 'Antigone'-theme from the previous versions.
Antigone's Last Monologue #3 (V2)- Duration: 3m 36s [MIDI] (November 2003) Will be replaced with Soundfont!
The file below is a slightly altered version of 'ALM #3'.
Antigone's Last Monologue #4 (V2)- Duration: 3m 36s [MIDI] (January 2004) Will be replaced with Soundfont!
Even though #4 was the most accurate version, there also were some minor issues regarding the orchestration. I had to alter a few measures in order to correct that.
The file at the top is a sample in MP3 format of the final version of "Antigone's Last Monologue"; recorded during one of the performances in 2004. You can hear both "Antigone" and "Creon" talking during the performance; everything was spoken in Dutch.
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