Johan de Meij

Johannes Abraham (Johan) de Meij (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjoːɦɑn də ˈmɛi]), born November 23, 1953,[1] in Voorburg, Netherlands, is a Dutch conductor, trombonist, and composer, best known for his Symphony No. 1 for wind ensemble, nicknamed The Lord of the Rings symphony.[2]

Johan de Meij

Biography

Johan de Meij received his musical training at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he studied trombone and conducting. His Symphony No. 1, The Lord of the Rings, received the Sudler Composition Prize and has been recorded by several noteworthy ensembles including The London Symphony Orchestra, The North Netherlands Orchestra, The Nagoya Philharmonic, and The Amsterdam Wind Orchestra.

Before turning exclusively to composing and conducting, Johan de Meij played trombone and euphonium; he performed with major ensembles in The Netherlands. He is the principal guest conductor of the New York Wind Symphony and the Kyushu Wind Orchestra in Fukuoka, Japan; he is a regular guest conductor of the Simón Bolívar Youth Wind Orchestra in Caracas, Venezuela, part of the celebrated Venezuelan educational system El Sistema. He is founder and CEO of the publishing company Amstel Music, which he established in 1989.

When not traveling, Johan divides his time between Hudson Valley and Manhattan with his wife Dyan, cats Lenny and Tosca, and their dog Lucy.

Works (incomplete)
  • 1979 Patchwork for brass sextet
  • 1984-1988 'Symphony No. 1 "The Lord of the Rings"
    1. Gandalf
    2. Lothlórien
    3. Gollum
    4. Journey in the Dark (The Mines of Moria - The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm)
    5. Hobbits
  • 1988 Loch Ness - A Scottish Fantasy
    1. The Lake At Dawn
    2. Slowly
    3. Inverness
    4. Storm
    5. Conclusion
  • 1989 Aquarium opus 5
    1. Allegretto grazioso (Neon Tetra, Electric Eel and Angelfish)
    2. Andante / Adagio (Sea Horse and Zebrafish)
    3. Finale: Allegro giocoso (Guppy & Co.)
  • 1993 Symphony No. 2 "The Big Apple" (A New York Symphony)
    1. Skyline - Allegro assai
    2. Interlude - Times Square Cadenza
    3. Gotham - Largamente, allegro agitato e nervoso
  • 1995 Polish Christmas Music- Part 1
    • based on the Polish Christmas carols Poklon Jezusowi; Mizerna, cicha; Aniol pasterzom mówil; Gdy sliczna Panna and Jam jest dudka
  • 1995 Jazz Suite No.2 (of Dmitri Shostakovich) Classical transcription for symphonic/fanfare band
    1. March
    2. Lyric Waltz
    3. Dance I
    4. Dance II
    5. Waltz no. 2
    6. Final
  • 1996 T-Bone Concerto for trombone and concert band
    1. Rare
    2. Medium
    3. Well done
  • 1997 Continental Overture
  • 1998 La Quintessenza
    1. Introduzione
    2. Capriccio
    3. Arioso
    4. Alla Marcia
  • 2000 Casanova for cello solo and symphonic wind orchestra
    1. Prologo – Il Tema di Messer Grande
    2. Cadenza – Attos di Presentazione
    3. La Vita a Corte
    4. L'Arresto di Casanova
    5. Reminiscenze
    6. L'Evasione dai Piombi
    7. M.M. e C.C.
    8. Finale e Stretto: Il Trionfo dell'Amore
  • 2002 The Venetian Collection
    1. Voice of Space (La Voix des Airs)
    2. The Red Tower (La Torre Rossa)
    3. Magic Garden (Zaubergarten)
    4. Empire of Light (L'Empire des Lumières)
  • Klezmer Classics for wind orchestra
    1. Mazltov
    2. Dem Trisker Rebn’s Nign
    3. Lomir Sich Iberbetn
    4. Chosidl
    5. Ma Yofus
  • The Wind in the Willows
    1. The River
    2. Ratty and Mole
    3. Mister Toad
    4. The Return of Ulysses
  • 2005 Extreme Make-over
    • Testpiece for the European Brass Band Contest 2005, Groningen-NL.
  • 2005 Ceremonial Fanfare[3]
  • 2006 Symphony No. 3 "Planet Earth"
    1. Lonely Planet
    2. Planet Earth
    3. Mother Earth
  • 2006 Windy City Overture - commissioned by the Northshore Concert Band
  • 2007 Canticles for Bass Trombone and Wind Orchestra
  • 2007 Festive Hymn
  • 2008 Dutch Masters Suite
    1. The Night Watch (after Rembrandt van Rijn)
    2. The Love Letter (after Johannes Vermeer)
    3. Prince’s Day (after Jan Steen)
  • 2009? Evolution
  • 2010 Spring - Overture for Wind Orchestra
  • 2010 At Kitty O'Sheas (Irish Folk Song Suite)
  • 2011 Cloud Factory
  • 2011 "Songs from the Catskills"
  • 2011? Sinfonietta no. 1 (for brass band)[4]
  • 2012 UFO Concerto for Euphonium
  • 2012 Extreme Beethoven - commissioned by The World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade
  • 2013 Symphony No. 4 "Sinfonie der Lieder"
  1. Ein Jahr is nun geschwunden (text by Friedrich Rückert)
  2. Wenn zur Tür herein (Rückert)
  3. Wiedersehn (Rückert)
  4. Zwei Brüder (Heinrich Heine)
  5. Vorfrühling (Hugo von Hofmannsthal)
  6. Liedchen des Harlekin (Hofmannsthal)
  • 2013 Basilica sacra[5]
  • 2013 Summer
  • 2014 Downtown divertimento[6]
  • Madurodam[7]
  • Pentagram[8]
  • R.O.K Navy Fanfare
  • 2019 Symphony No. 5 "Return to Middle Earth"
  1. Mîri na Fëanor (Fëanor’s Jewels)
  2. Tinúviel (Nightingale)
  3. Ancalagon i-môr (Ancalagon, The Black)
  4. Arwen Undómiel (Evenstar)
  5. Dagor Delothrin (The War of Wrath)
  6. Thuringwethil (Woman of Secret Shadow)

References
  1. "Johan De Meij | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  2. Carson, William S. (October 2003). On the Path to Excellence: The Northshore Concert Band : Paynter, Buehlman, and Beyond. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 196–. ISBN 9781574630275. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  3. "Johan de Meij". www.johandemeij.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  4. "Johan de Meij". www.johandemeij.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  5. "Johan de Meij". www.johandemeij.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  6. "Johan de Meij". www.johandemeij.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  7. "Johan de Meij". www.johandemeij.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  8. "Johan de Meij". www.johandemeij.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
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