Golden Age

1 Condensed Score - 1 Piccolo - 4 Flute I - 4 Flute II - 1 Oboe I - 1 Oboe II - 2 Bassoon - 1 Clarinet Eb - 4 Clarinet Solo - 4 Clarinet I - 4 Clarinet II - 4 Clarinet III - 1 Bass Clarinet - 1 Soprano Saxophone I - 1 Soprano Saxophone II - 2 Alto Saxophone I - 2 Alto Saxophone II - 2 Tenor Saxophone - 1 Baritone Saxophone - 1 Flugelhorn Eb - 1 Flugelhorn Solo - 2 Flugelhorn I - 2 Flugelhorn II - 1 Flugelhorn III - 2 Cornet I - 2 Cornet II - 2 Cornet III - 2 Trumpet I - 2 Trumpet II - 1 Horn I Eb - 1 Horn I F - 1 Horn II Eb - 1 Horn II F - 1 Horn III Eb - 1 Horn III F - 1 Horn IV Eb - 1 Horn IV F - 2 Trombone I C - 1 Trombone I Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone I Bb (BC) - 2 Trombone II C - 1 Trombone II Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone II Bb (BC) - 2 Trombone III C - 1 Trombone III Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone III Bb (BC) - 2 Baritone C - 2 Baritone Bb (BC) - 4 Baritone Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (BC) - 2 Bas Eb (TC) - 2 Bas Eb (BC) - 4 Tuba C - 1 Stringbass - 2 Percussion I - 2 Percussion II - 1 Glockenspiel - 1 Timpani

In 1979 Badings was commissioned to compose a work in several parts for symphonic band which could also be performed by amateur players. This commission resulted in 'Golden Age', a composition in which he used a lot of material borrowed from the Dutch 17th century folklore. It is a four-part suite. The first part evokes the pompous dignity of The Hague, the 'distin-guished royal village' as it was so deliciously described by the poet Constan-tijn Huygens. The second part is a gaillarde with a double (repetition with ornaments). The third part is a canonic march based on a Frisian theme. The final part is a quick gigue (jig) containing a fugue in which all previous themes rerturn in a virtuoso way.