COMPOSITIONS / MUSIC THEATRE / DE SYNODE (2019)

MUSIC THEATRE

De Synode (2019)

Chamber opera

  • 80 min
  • Donemus Publishing
  • May, 2019

De Synode (‘The Synod’, 2019) is the third opera composed by Jan-Peter de Graaff, based on a libretto by Yuri Robbers. Commissioned by Muziektheater Hollands Diep for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the ‘Synod of Dordrecht’, the first time in history where democracy was used as a tool to solve a religious conflict within a country. During this time, the country was also on the brink of a civil war between monarchists and republicans.

In the opera, a merchant tries to gain financially from the outcome of the religious conflict by collaborating with both opposite sides of the conflict. Unfortunately for him, both outcome of the religious conflict and the outcome of the political conflict don’t go as planned, resulting in him losing his daughter and all his possessions, leaving him to the mercy of his debt owners. 

Musically, the opera draws heavily from religious and folk music from The Netherlands in the 1600’s, but putting it in an ‘anachronistic’ context, by using mainly modern instruments. To start a musical dialogue with the present day, this music is frequently contrasted by edgy rhythmic grooves, glacial metallic lines and soaring melodies that unveil the character’s true motives and intensions. 

THE CAST

Dramatis Personae First Performance
MAARTEN Baritone Berend Eijkhout
JOHANNA Soprano Renate Arends
JACOBUS Counter-Tenor Joël Vuik
FRANCISCUS Baritone Jorne van Bergeijk
MICHIEL Counter-Tenor (doubles with JACOBUS)
ENGEL Soprano (doubles with JOHANNA)

PRODUCTION

Libretto Yuri Robbers
Commissioned by Muziektheater Hollands Diep
Instrumentation ob.ssax/bsax | hp pno(luthéal) | vln. db.

MUSIC

Conductor Mark Biggins
Ensemble Shapeshift
Frits van der Waa
De Volkskrant

Composer Jan-Peter de Graaff, just in his late twenties, did provide the cast with comfortable, singable lines, which are accompanied, at many times even pierced by multifunctional sound sculptures, performed by the 6-part ensemble Shapeshift. In contrast with spicy tuttis there are subtle pizzicato sections, the tonally oriented idiom always finds a way to keep your attention, not even mentioning the subtle hints at church chorals and 17th century folk songs.

Preview the Score

de synode sheetmusic_Page_01
de synode sheetmusic_Page_02
de synode sheetmusic_Page_03
de synode sheetmusic_Page_04
de synode sheetmusic_Page_05
de synode sheetmusic_Page_06
de synode sheetmusic_Page_07
de synode sheetmusic_Page_08
de synode sheetmusic_Page_09
de synode sheetmusic_Page_10
de synode sheetmusic_Page_11
de synode sheetmusic_Page_12
de synode sheetmusic_Page_13
de synode sheetmusic_Page_14
de synode sheetmusic_Page_15
de synode sheetmusic_Page_16
de synode sheetmusic_Page_17
de synode sheetmusic_Page_18
de synode sheetmusic_Page_19
de synode sheetmusic_Page_20
de synode sheetmusic_Page_21
de synode sheetmusic_Page_22
de synode sheetmusic_Page_23
de synode sheetmusic_Page_24
de synode sheetmusic_Page_25
de synode sheetmusic_Page_26
de synode sheetmusic_Page_27
de synode sheetmusic_Page_28
de synode sheetmusic_Page_29
de synode sheetmusic_Page_30
de synode sheetmusic_Page_31
de synode sheetmusic_Page_32
de synode sheetmusic_Page_33
de synode sheetmusic_Page_34
de synode sheetmusic_Page_35
de synode sheetmusic_Page_36
de synode sheetmusic_Page_37
de synode sheetmusic_Page_38
de synode sheetmusic_Page_39
de synode sheetmusic_Page_40
de synode sheetmusic_Page_41
de synode sheetmusic_Page_42
de synode sheetmusic_Page_43
de synode sheetmusic_Page_44
de synode sheetmusic_Page_45
de synode sheetmusic_Page_46
de synode sheetmusic_Page_47
de synode sheetmusic_Page_48
de synode sheetmusic_Page_49
de synode sheetmusic_Page_50
de synode sheetmusic_Page_51
de synode sheetmusic_Page_52
de synode sheetmusic_Page_53
de synode sheetmusic_Page_54
de synode sheetmusic_Page_55
de synode sheetmusic_Page_56
de synode sheetmusic_Page_57
de synode sheetmusic_Page_58
de synode sheetmusic_Page_59
de synode sheetmusic_Page_60
de synode sheetmusic_Page_61
de synode sheetmusic_Page_62
de synode sheetmusic_Page_63
de synode sheetmusic_Page_64
de synode sheetmusic_Page_65
de synode sheetmusic_Page_66
de synode sheetmusic_Page_67
de synode sheetmusic_Page_68
de synode sheetmusic_Page_69
de synode sheetmusic_Page_70
de synode sheetmusic_Page_71
de synode sheetmusic_Page_72
de synode sheetmusic_Page_73
de synode sheetmusic_Page_74
de synode sheetmusic_Page_75
de synode sheetmusic_Page_76
de synode sheetmusic_Page_77
de synode sheetmusic_Page_78
de synode sheetmusic_Page_79
de synode sheetmusic_Page_80
de synode sheetmusic_Page_81
de synode sheetmusic_Page_82
de synode sheetmusic_Page_83
de synode sheetmusic_Page_84
de synode sheetmusic_Page_85
GET THE FULL SCORE

Check out more

Hagar (2025)

  • Music Theatre
A bold and creative partnership between composer Jan-Peter de Graaff and librettist Eleanor Barlow, Hagar is a daring, modern and fiercely human reimagining of the ancient tale that explores resilience, scandal, and consequence....
Read more

Lock, Stock and Barrel (2024)

  • Solo
Lock, stock, and barrel is a two-episode suite for solo piano, commissioned by the YPF Piano competition as compulsory work for participants of the competition....
Read more

Effugium (2024)

  • Choral
Effugium is a requiem based on texts by Jean-Paul Sartre’s Huis Clos and the liturgical Dies Irae. The piece was performed by chamber choir Ad Parnassum and The Brabant Chamber Orchestra....
Read more

Join Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and get regular updates about Jan-Peter’s newest compositions and concerts that you can enjoy.

LISTEN DIRECTLY

·