He was a trombonist in a band in the Netherlands until he began conducting and composing for wind orchestras, becoming one of the most important band composers of the last four decades. The Dutchman Johan de Meij (1953) became famous when he composed his first symphony, The Lord of the Rings, based on Tolkien's novel, in which he illustrates different characters or episodes from the book in five movements. But he also has a concerto grosso for wind quintet and band titled A Moment Given in tribute to the footballer and coach Johan Cruyff. He wrote it in 2020, four years after the now myth of the history of football in general and Barça in particular passed away. And he did it by paraphrasing her in his characteristic tacky Spanish.
This Sunday, De Meij, and therefore the footballer – and also The Lord of the Rings –, star in the program of the Barcelona Municipal Band, which welcomes as guests the members of the Calefax Reed Quintet of reed instruments, also from Holland, where apart from making the ball roll they have a great band tradition.
