Johan Nijs: Matreshka: Concert Band

For more than a hundred years, the matreshka dolls have been a traditional trademark of Russia. The story behind these dolls is that many years ago, a little Russian girl, Olga, got lost in a forest. When her older sister finally found her, she said, ?Let me hold you.? Next, their mother also arrived, and said, ?Let me hold you both.? Subsequently, the grandmother joined them, and said, ?Let me hold you all.? As a result of this story, these popular ?nesting dolls? came into being. The work Matreshka consists of originally-composed themes. The first theme, reminiscent of a Russian hymn, is followed by another theme in a typically Russian style. A slow passage forms thetransition to the final, energetic movement ? this Russian troika in two-four time starts slowly and ends very exuberantly. A great piece of Russian exuberance that will delight any audience.