Chanson de Geste

A Danse Suite

Chanson de Geste is a work for Orchestra, featuring instruments which instruments which were known in the Middle Ages, like Lute (guitar) or harp. A Movement with a pan flute runs like a red thread throughout the whole composition. Chanson de Geste is ideal for use with Dance.
The Work is inspired by the historical figure of Guillaume de Gelone and is dedicated to HRH Prince Willem Alexander of the Netherlands.

Act 1 Scene 1
Pan's Call
The Troubadour William meets a minstrelwho tells him of a beautiful rose in a far off land, and that to find her he needs to follow the noonday sun.
The Market Place William finds his father at the Marketplace, who is sad but understands why his son needs to go
Act 1 Scene 2
Pan's Call
The Fisherman William travels to the coast where he meets a fisherman he is warned of rough seas but is not put off, so the fisherman tells his son Tom to go with William.
The Sea The two boys cross the sea in a storm and are washed up on an unfamiliar shore the boat is broken.
Act 1 Scene 3
The Forest The two boys find a forest at dusk and settle for the night. They make a fire and eat fish they had caught earlier. Forest animals come to see what is happening in their wood. The boys are scared at first by noises and movements but eventually fall asleep
Act 1 Scene 4
Pan's Call
The Cottage The boys continue on their journey and come to a cottage. They are invited to stay for a meal so they can tell the story of the journey so far. They help the family with food prep. The family has two daughters, the eldest daughter decides she will join the boys on the adventure.
Act 1 Scene 5
11-Act 1 Scene 5 Pan's Call.mp3
12-Act 1 Scene 5 The King.mp3 The party arrive in a town on a festival day. They watch the singing and dancing and look at the goods they have not seen before. The King asks to see the newcomers and they tell him the story. He shows William his kingdom's beauty sure that Spencer must be talking about this. William says that this is not the rose he is looking for. He gives William a sword to protect him and two soldiers and asks to be informed when they find the garden and the rose.
The Jester The Jester gives William a sword to protect him. The king gives two soldiers and asks to be informed when they find the garden and the rose.
INTERVAL
Act 2 Scene 1
Pan's Call The party reach the mountains. A monster (2 headed) or maybe two trolls guard the passage through the mountains. As the children work out how to continue their journey the weather closes in. Snow swirls around the mountains.
The fight with the Dragon.mp3 A fight ensues between the boys and the dragon. When it is blinded by the snow William manages to kill it.
Act 2 Scene 2
Pan's Call
The lost friend During the flight Tom is injured. He tells William to continue and leave him to die
Act 2 Scene 3
The Garden The party arrives at a village where there is a walled garden. This is where the Rose is. The villagers are decorating the wall and gates in preparation for the summer solstice festival when the garden gates open.
Act 2 Scene 4
19-Act 2 Scene 4 Pan's Call.mp3
20-Act 2 Scene 4 Finale.mp3 First Part of Finale

All the villagers dance The King arrives with the injured person. The King congratulates Spencer and everyone is happy to see Tom is alive!
21-Act 2 Scene 4 Grand Finale.mp3
The Jester returns to indicate the end of the story. Everyone is to celebrate at the end with a coming together of the music and characters.

Act 1 Scene 1
Pan's Call
The Troubadour	William meets a minstrelwho tells him of a beautiful rose in a far off land, and that to find her he needs to follow the noonday sun.
The Market Place	William finds his father at the Marketplace, who is sad but understands why his son needs to go
Act 1 Scene 2
Pan's Call
The Fisherman	William travels to the coast where he meets a fisherman he is warned of rough seas but is not put off, so the fisherman tells his son Tom to go with William.
The Sea	The two boys cross the sea in a storm and are washed up on an unfamiliar shore the boat is broken.
Act 1 Scene 3
The Forest	The two boys find a forest at dusk and settle for the night. They make a fire and eat fish they had caught earlier. Forest animals come to see what is happening in their wood. The boys are scared at first by noises and movements but eventually fall asleep
Act 1 Scene 4
Pan's Call
The Cottage	The boys continue on their journey and come to a cottage. They are invited to stay for a meal so they can tell the story of the journey so far. They help the family with food prep. The family has two daughters, the eldest daughter decides she will join the boys on the adventure.
Act 1 Scene 5
11-Act 1 Scene 5 Pan's Call.mp3
12-Act 1 Scene 5 The King.mp3	The party arrive in a town on a festival day. They watch the singing and dancing and look at the goods they have not seen before. The King asks to see the newcomers and they tell him the story. He shows William his kingdom's beauty sure that Spencer must be talking about this. William says that this is not the rose he is looking for. He gives William a sword to protect him and two soldiers and asks to be informed when they find the garden and the rose.
The Jester	The Jester gives William a sword to protect him. The king gives two soldiers and asks to be informed when they find the garden and the rose.
INTERVAL
Act 2 Scene 1
Pan's Call	The party reach the mountains. A monster (2 headed) or maybe two trolls guard the passage through the mountains. As the children work out how to continue their journey the weather closes in. Snow swirls around the mountains.
The fight with the Dragon.mp3	A fight ensues between the boys and the dragon. When it is blinded by the snow William manages to kill it.
Act 2 Scene 2
Pan's Call
The lost friend	During the flight Tom is injured. He tells William to continue and leave him to die
Act 2 Scene 3
The Garden	The party arrives at a village where there is a walled garden. This is where the Rose is. The villagers are decorating the wall and gates in preparation for the summer solstice festival when the garden gates open.
Act 2 Scene 4
19-Act 2 Scene 4 Pan's Call.mp3
20-Act 2 Scene 4 Finale.mp3 First Part of Finale	All the villagers dance The King arrives with the injured person. The King congratulates Spencer and everyone is happy to see Tom is alive!
21-Act 2 Scene 4 Grand Finale.mp3	The Jester returns to indicate the end of the story. Everyone is to celebrate at the end with a coming together of the music and characters.