Stronghold (Fanfare)

The composition Stronghold was written for muziekvereniging Oosterbroek from Zuidbroek. The title refers to the coat of arms of the former municipality Oosterbroek in the province of Groningen, which shows a stronghold made of silver. This stronghold is in itself a reference to the 14th century Gockingaborg, where the Gockinga family lived for a long time and exerted influence on the region around Noordbroek and Zuidbroek. The composition has the character of a stately and energetic march, even though it is not a traditional march. The middle movement is characterized by a 'cantabile' section, as a contrast to the 'marziale' character of the outer movements.