Rejoice!

Wim Henderickx composed Rejoice! (Hymn for New Times) for large orchestra in 2022, commissioned by the Belgian National Orchestra (NOB). This orchestra invited him to be their composer-in-residence for 2023-2024. However, he passed away suddenly in December 2022. The orchestra decided to continue with this residency, performing both this newly composed work and existing orchestral works by Wim Henderickx. His musical assistant Diederik Glorieux prepared REJOICE! for the orchestra and Jorrit Tamminga developed the electronics. On 8 September 2023, the season of the Belgian National Orchestra opened with the posthumous premiere of this work at Bozar, conducted by Antony Hermus. The composition is based on Bach's Cantata: “Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!” (BWV 214). Wim Henderickx drew inspiration from this work to shape the harmonic structure and instrumentation. Above all, Wim Henderickx wanted to send a positive message in today's turbulent world. The work consists of five movements and an epilogue. The musicians are given a great deal of freedom to improvise within a harmonic framework and to construct their own melodies. Three different energies determine the density and fullness of the piece. The colour of the electronics gives the work an ethereal dimension. For the epilogue, Glorieux chose to orchestrate the Agnus Dei from Henderickx's vocal work “Revelations”.