alchemistic suite

ALCHEMISTIC SUITE a suite for Big Band in four parts

commissioned by the David Kweksilber Big Band (Amsterdam)
and the Netherlands Performing Arts Fund

“Slow Gold”
music composed by Hilary Jeffery (2008)
images by Makino Takashi (2017)

David Kweksilber Big Band
recorded live at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam
Holland Festival – June 2008

Soloists:
Rozemarie Heggen – double bass
Claron McFadden – soprano

Dedicated to Sean Bergin, Cor Fuhler, Mary O’Donnell Fulkerson, Sanne Van Hek and Keith Tippett

The first complete composition Hilary wrote was at the age of 15 for a school big band. He has subsequently written for and played in many big bands, at university and as a professional musician. He composed the four part “Alchemistic Suite” for the David Kweksilber Big Band between 2008 and 2016, commissioned by David Kweksilber with support from the Netherlands Performing Arts Fund. Each part features solos and duos from the band as well as group improvisations. The score combines traditional and graphic notation. Many musical influences, approaches and styles are incorporated into the music, combined and mixed in unusual ways – something like an alchemical experiment. Important influences for this work include the music of Carla Bley, Gil Evans, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Olivier Messiaen, Charles Mingus, George Russell, Keith Tippett and Henry Threadgill.

PART 1: SLOW SILVER
featuring Peter Kuit, Wiek Hijmans and Tjeerd Oostendorp

[VIDEO] ↓ filmed at Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Amsterdam, 26 January 2013