Last updated

Saturday April 5th 2003

Adders onder het Gras

1980

Adders onder het Gras has been written for an ensemble of seven bass-clarinettists, who also have to play some little other instruments at the side. It can also be played by a single player (playing part #4) with the other parts pre-recorded on tape.

The piece was intended for and played by Harry Sparnaay's Bass-clarinet Collective.

The story (simplified): In the beginning everybody is equal, every player playing the same things and having a contribution of equal importance to the total. After some time, however, the fourth player takes the lead, gradually assumiing the role of soloist. Initially the others accept the change in hierarchy, but after some time #4 is exaggerating, getting more and more arrogant.
Then one by one the others start protesting and eventually make plain revolution. Int het end nobody obeys anymore. Only one more time #4 is able to reinstall his supremacy by making the others do his thing; but not for long: complete anarchy breaks out. In a way the situation of the beginning of the piece is restored: everybody has an equal contribution to the total again, only the total has completely changed character.

It may be interesting to know that the piece was written for an ensemble consisting of Harry Sparnaay playing the solo (#4) and six of his students, with the composer playing #7, the most ruthless anarchist. Thus the piece is also the story of students revolting against their teacher.

The piece can be played in a theatrical, scenic way, but as it is the composer's conviction that the music is quite clear in itself, performers should be careful herein. The composer actually abors art that is too clear in its meaning. Whence the title, a Dutch expression, meaning difficulties in an apparently simple problem which are only discovered after close examination.

However, some care about clothing, facial expressions etc. can be approved of.