Harrie Janssen

Two Symphonic Interludes

Based on the poems by German poet Carl Hauptmann (late Romanticism) and the English poet William Wordsworth (early Romanticism).

Carl Hauptmann was in poor health as a child, but highly intelligent. He studied philosophy, psychology and biology. In the latter he was admitted to the degree of doctor. His marriage provided financial independence, so that he could focus on his studies.
Hauptmann wrote various novels, plays, poetry and scientific works.

Night

Twilight floats above the valley's night
mists are hanging,
there's a whispering brook.
Now the covering veil is lifting quite:
come and look!
See the magicland before our gaze:
tall as dreams the silver mountains stand,
crossed by silent silver paths shining from a secret land.
Noble, pure, the dreaming country sleeps.
By the path the shadow black and hogh of a beach.
a wisp of a white smoke creeps to the dark'ning sky.
Where the valley is the darkest hued countless little lights shine silently.
O my soul!
Drink of solitude!

Carl Hauptmann

Wordsworth 'introduced' a new type of poetry, based on the speech of the common man. This was his answer to the poetry of the classicism which was bound by rigid rules. His definition of poetry was: the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings from emotions recollected in tranquility.

My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began.
So is it now I am a man.
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man.
And I could wish my days to be Bound each to each by natural piety.

William Wordsworth

In a truly poetic manner Harrie Janssen has transformed the contemplative thoughts of the poets into two compositions for Concert Band.