Puszta - Jan Van de Roost - IWCB

Inner West Community Band plays Puszta by Jan Van de Roost.
https://iwcb.org.au/

Puszta

Van der Roost’s ‘Puszta’ (1988), subtitled Four Gipsy Dances, is inspired by Slavonic folk music. This style is a rich source of inspiration for works such as Hungarian Dances by Brahms, Slavonic Dances by Dvorak, and Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt. ‘Puszta’ however was an original composition based on the composer’s impressions, and not adapted from existing dances. Van der Roost’s exciting music of ‘Puszta’ alternates from bright and colourful to tranquil and melancholic.
The Puszta is the vast grassland region of the Great Hungarian Plain lying to the south and east of the Danube River. Although it is not continuous with the rest of the Great Eurasian Steppe, it is considered part of the region. Now largely given over to agriculture, the Puszta is traditionallywas once home to nomadic shepherds and horseback fighters.
Van der Roost is a versatile contemporary composer of works for large and small ensembles, solo instruments and choir. He currently teaches in his home country of Belgium as well as in Japan.


Our Musical Director:

Born in Japan and based in Sydney, Australia, Dr. Sadaharu Muramatsu (Sada) is the artistic director of Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of Symphonia Jubilate, musical director of Inner West Community Band, conductor of Sydney Youth Orchestra, lecturer and conductor of Excelsia College (formerly Wesley Institute), music director of Excelsia Chamber Orchestra and conductor of Suzuki Cello Ensemble.

In Sydney, Sada has conducted the Penrith Symphony Orchestra, Rockdale Opera Company, Sydney Camerata and many other ensembles. He also conducted the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra in Japan.

Sada completed a Masters of Music in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK. Subsequently, he was granted a fellowship to study conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney under the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists. Sada resides in Australia under a Distinguished Talent visa granted by the Australian Government for his achievements as a conductor.

His accomplishments include receiving recognition in the NSW State Parliament for his significant contributions to music in the local Strathfield Area (2022), Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendations (2019), Consul-General of Japan’s Commendation Award in Sydney (2018), an Honorary Doctorate in Music from his alumnus Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK (2011), second prize in the Vienna Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival with the Wesley Institute Choir in the Golden Hall, Musikverein, Austria (2011), finalist and awarded Special Prize of the Jury at the Emmerich Kalman International Conductor’s Competition at the Budapest Operetta Theatre, Hungary (2007), semi-finalist in the 2nd Bartok Bela International Opera-Conducting Competition in Romania (2007), Mortimer Furber Prize for Conducting in Manchester, UK (2005), and first prize at the ISIS Conducting Competition in Cambridge, UK (2001). Sada studie conducting under Imre Pallo, Kurt Masur, Sir Mark Elder CBE, Hirofumi Misawa and Kazuki Sawa.

www.sadaharu.net