Two Holland Tales (Dutch Folk Songs)

Two Holland Tales by Ryan Meeboer
Includes score and parts
Duration 3:00
Two Dutch folk songs: “There Were Two Royal Children” and  “I Once Stood on the Netherlands' Hills”

Instrumentation: 
Part 1. flute (or oboe or clarinet)
Part 2. flute (or oboe or clarinet)
Part 3. clarinet (or alto sax or F horn)
Part 4. clarinet (or alto sax or tenor sax)
Part 5. bass clarinet (or bassoon or baritone sax)
optional percussion. suspended cymbal, triangle, snare drum, bass drum

This piece combines lyrical and upbeat sections. There Were Two Royal Children is the opening lyrical movement which displays the talents of most of the parts. Balance is key for this part of the piece, as the melody is moved around the different sections and it is important that it is always heard over the colourful backgrounds.

The piece then moves into I Once stood On the Netherland's Hills. This movement is meant to be fun and played with a light bounce.  In the second half of this section, a third Dutch folksong, Three Nasty Drummers, is used as a counter-medley by the fourth part and is meant to add some new, interesting material to the piece as it comes to its closing.