Cours de la vie

For: 2 accordion players

The Dutch accordion duo ‘Toeac’ consisting of Renée Bekkers and Pieternel Berkers asked me to write a piece for their program ‘Fairly tales ‘. They wanted it to be based on a fairy tale. I thought about going to the public library and look for a fairy tale written by Roald Dahl. I looked for the library card, only to see that it was closed that day. I felt a bit disappointed as I really felt the urge to compose. Instead I started to do the dishes. While I was doing this I heard train music in my head (inner hearing). What is that train doing there, where does he come from, where is he going to? Those were a few of the questions that came to my mind. In the end I decided to invent my own fairy tale.

‘Cours de la vie’ What’s it all about then? People, who go on a sight-seeing tour, get aboard and slowly the train developes its speed. (Le départ) After a while the train stops at the young people’s station (Gare des jeunes). The people on the train get out, only to find out that the kids are playing tricks on them. So they jump on it again. The train drives them to the next station (Gare des adults) only to find out that those grown-ups are very strict and only spend their time working and working. Once again they jump aboard and arrive at the station of the old people (Gare des vieux). Here everything goes slowly. When death (La mort) appears the people from the train jump on board as quickly as possible and the train rushes off!

On the music preview you can hear a recording of one of the first performances of ‘Cours de la vie’ that was funded by the ‘Performing Arts Fund NL’.

Duration: 11’45
Price: € 18,50