Colorado River

The mighty Colorado River flows 2400 km through the USA and Mexico, from the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. In his composition COLORADO RIVER, Kees Vlak sets the course of the river to music. The small stream rises in the mountains of the Rocky Mountains. The water splashes peacefully through the green mountain meadows. The main theme sounds, a glockenspiel symbolizes the flowing water. The bigger and faster the river gets, the more often this water motive will sound. Strong chords stand for the great mountain massifs, the main theme is repeated in the style of a pastoral. By changing to the Alla Breve beat, the stream becomes a river, it flows faster and stronger; crescendi and decrescendi represent the rapids. The long journey through America is also reflected in the various musical motifs. Now the current is so strong that you can no longer swim in it. It flows past a western city dancing country before plunging into the Grand Canyon with numerous waterfalls and meandering its vast water masses through the millions of years old gorge. All of a sudden, calm sets in as the river flows into the huge Lake Mead reservoir. The work COLORADO RIVER ends in a majestic coda.