He was a trombonist in a band in the Netherlands until he turned to conducting and composing for wind bands, becoming one of the most important band composers of the last four decades. Dutchman Johan de Meij (1953) became famous when he wrote 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 entitled Un momento dado in tribute to the footballer and coach Johan Cruyff. He wrote it in 2020, four years after the now myth of football history in general and Barça in particular died. And he did it by paraphrasing it in his characteristic macaronic Spanish.
This Sunday, De Meij, together with the football star – and The Lord of the Retort 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 coming from Holland, where apart from rolling the ball they have a great band tradition.
