Johan de Meij: Madurodam: Orchestre d'Harmonie

Madurodam is a small scale miniature town at Scheveningen (near The Hague) and is since many years one of the most important tourist attractions of the conurbation of Western Holland (called "Randstad"). On a scale 1:25 a charming picture of The Netherlands is given in bird's eye view: several important buildings, churches and townscapes are reconstructed up to the smallest details. There is also a fine transport system: a network of railroads, harbours and motorways covers the park and Madurodam Airport enables air traffic with all continents. The miniature suite Madurodam consists of eight short parts presenting a musical impression of the smallest town in The Netherlands. IReveille the piccolo flute and the side drum announce a new day; II Toy Soldiers there is a military parade in front of the George Maduro Barracks; III Binnenhof/Buitenhof a solemn melody is the main theme of the suite and depicts the state buildings and the nearby lake "Hofvijver" at The Hague; IV Small Windmills everything that moves or whirls at Madurodam is described in this barrel organ waltz; V Intermezzo/Nocturne Madurodam by night is described by a solemn passage played in unison by the lower instruments; VI The Westerkerk Church also the capital Amsterdam is represented with the chimes of the famous Westerkerk church; VII The Muiderslot Castle an elegant pavane recalls medieval atmospheres; VIII "Grande" Finale the windmill theme comes back and then the suite comes to an end with the "Binnenhof" theme, decorated by the first strains of the national hymn "Wilhelmus".