EBBC 2017, Ostend – Challenge division Test Piece.
Insomnia was based on the eponymous poem by Dante Gabriel Rosetti (1828-1882). It was commissioned by Vlamo at the occasion of the 2017 European Brass Band Championsships, Ostend 2017, and nominated ‘Test piece of the year’ by 4 bars rest.
In this piece Bart Picqueur combines spoken word (the declamation of Rosetti’s text by whispering musicians) with virtuoso brass playing. The continuous marimba ostinato gives it its hypnotic sense.