Raga I

RAGA I is part of the RAGA Cycle, which comprises several works based on Indian raga. The original version for percussion and two pianos was composed in 1994, commissioned by the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. There is also a version for solo percussion and for percussion and orchestra, commissioned in 1996 by the BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra (now the Brussels Philharmonic). In 2016, Wim Henderickx created a version for percussion and wind orchestra, commissioned by the Royal Band of the Guides. The composition contains two contrasting parts. The first part is slow, meditative, picturesque and poetic, while the second part is fast and has an enormous rhythmic drive. For the melodic material, Wim Henderickx based himself on the Indian modes, which determine the mood of the music. In this work, the morning raga and the evening raga are combined. The rhythm goes back to the Indian tal structure. This is a period of a certain number of beats, in which accents and ornamentations create ever-changing variations. The instrumentation is inspired by Eastern and African percussion instruments.