Jacob de Haan

Virginia

This expressive piece depicts three periods that play an important role in the history of the American state of Virginia, the colonization, slavery, and the American Civil War. The first movement describes the adventures and hardships of the first colonists through lively American sounding themes. The expressive slow movement, in which a melancholic minor theme forms the starting point, depicts, with clever use of blues elements, the oppressed slaves on the tobacco plantation. This is followed by a illustration of the Civil War, heralded by ceremonial figures from the brass section. The work is brought to a close with a slow but optimistic theme heralding hope for the future.