On "De herdertjes lagen bij nachte" - (2017)   

for piano

for Mariane

 

A seasonal melody from the Netherlands is treated with flowing lines surrounding the theme, with a simple second repetition and dolce ending. "The shepherds at night" is found in "Oude en nieuwe kerstliedere," and was collected by the brothers Thijm, and published by van Langenhuysen in Amsterdam in 1852. The text in Dutch begins "De herdertjes lagen bij nachte / Zij lagen bij nacht in het veld / Zij hielden vol trouwe de wachte / Zij hadden hun schaapjes geteld / Daar hoorden zij d'engelen zingen / Hun liederen, vloeiend en klaar / De herders naar Bethlehem gingen..."

 

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1 pages, circa 2' 00" - an MP3 demo is here: 

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano score.

 

On "De herdertjes lagen bij nachte"