Pulses of the earth

Pulses of the Earth is about the intangible and the supernatural. Rhythmic pulsations and enormous drive are the characteristics of this work. It is an up-tempo composition that explodes into an enormous climax in the last movement, in which the orchestra musicians also rhythmically proclaim it. The climax can be interpreted as a volcanic eruption. This obsessive and direct music also represents a kind of ritual in which Mother Earth and the power of the natural elements play a central role. The work is full of contrasts in the orchestration, but is always searching for power and colour. Pulses of the Earth is the second part of Wim Henderickx's large symphonic work Symphony N° 2 (Aquarius' Dream) for soprano, orchestra, electronics and lighting design, a work he composed on commission from the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra (deFilharmonie). Especially for the debut of the Youth Orchestra Flanders, Wim Henderickx created a version for their instrumentation (original version), which premiered at Flagey in Brussels in February 2019. In 2022, Wim Henderickx created an “ouverture version” for the National Orchestra of Belgium, which premiered on 9 September 2022 at Bozar, with Antony Hermus as conductor. Wim Henderickx was the orchestra's composer-in-residence for the 2022-2023 season.