Tejas

Tejas was composed for large orchestra on commission from deFilharmonie (Antwerp Symphony Orchestra) in 2009, premiered under the baton of Jaap van Zweden at De Singel in Antwerp and at the Concertgebouw in Bruges. The work was subsequently performed with other orchestras in various countries. It is the sixth and penultimate part in the seven-part series, the Tantric Cycle (2004-2010), inspired by the East. This music was created after a spiritual journey through the Himalayas, with Kathmandu as the most important location. In Tejas, Wim Henderickx attempts, as in many of his other works, to bring together musical influences and instruments from all over the world. A gigantic percussion section with five percussionists includes instruments from our own region, but also from the East (Thai gongs, Indian bells, Japanese drums), Africa (slit drums), etc. The work begins with a gigantic chord, a kind of big bang that provides the energy for the rest of the composition. This is also the basic harmonic material. At the end, in the epilogue, the solo violin will unfold this series of notes in its entirety. The strict organisation of time also characterises this work, with each part in a predetermined proportion to the whole. As in the construction of a cathedral, the composer has attempted to provide solid pillars of support in this composition. The tempo relationships are also interrelated. The work is also inspired by the energy and vibrations present in the universe. Hence the title “What does the Sound of the Universe look like”, one big musical wave that underpins the entire composition on both a micro and macro level. The large form of the composition consists of seven main parts, inspired by pulsars, supernovas, black holes, quasars, etc. Between these main parts there are three interludes (Gunas), in which various instruments from the orchestra act as soloists. At the end, there is an epilogue (Frozen Time), in which Henderickx attempts to freeze time. This epilogue follows an enormous musical eruption. I Ahata (struck sound) Guna 1 : Tamas (darkness) II Mysterious pulsar III Energy pulsar IV Poetic pulsar Guna 2 : Rajas (passion) V Quasars VI Supernova Guna 3 : Sattva (goodness) VII Anahata (unstruck sound) Epilogue (Frozen Time) The word Tejas is Sanskrit for a number of meanings such as fire (one of the five elements) but also for light, vitality, magical power, creative energy, etc. Finally, one could say that in this monumental piece, the smallest musical idea is always related to the larger whole. As mentioned earlier, everything revolves around the vibration of sound, the oscillation around a tone. From the outset, this is clearly audible in various instruments, including the trumpets.