On March 15, the Brussels Philharmonic premieres Wim Henderickx's Timpani Concerto under the baton of Giancarlo Guerrero. Our own timpanist—and close friend of Wim—Gert François will take on the challenging solo part.
"This is not an easy piece to perform, the concerto demands a wide range of playing styles. But the timpani part is phenomenal. When it comes to writing for timpani, Wim is in a league of his own. ... When the Timpani Concerto came up, Guerrero immediately replied: 'That’s mine!'"
Belgian composer Wim Henderickx's new Timpani Concerto is paired with Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, a personal favorite of Wim's and a lasting source of inspiration.
Discover moreWim and I were close friends. We met back when we were both studying at the conservatory. Every year, we would go to Reggae Geel together. The last time we went, we talked about religion. He was fascinated by it—Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and African religions. So it wasn’t a surprise when he chose a religious structure for his Timpani Concerto. The Timpani Concerto is built around five movements: Air, Water, Earth, Fire, and Ether. And each movement is further divided into five sections: Prayer, Lamentation, Meditation, Contemplation, and Ecstasy.
We’ll be performing Wim’s Timpani Concerto under the baton of Giancarlo Guerrero. I’ve worked with Guerrero and Brussels Philharmonic before on another one of Wim’s pieces, Groove!. When the Timpani Concerto came up, Guerrero immediately replied: “That’s mine!”
This is not an easy piece to perform, the concerto demands a wide range of playing styles. But the timpani part is phenomenal. When it comes to writing for timpani, Wim is in a league of his own. It’s a real challenge to spotlight the timpani without resorting to sensationalism, yet keeping it authentic. Wim succeeds brilliantly.His longtime assistant, Diederik Glorieux, finalised the score, staying true to Wim’s spirit. There is nothing in the score that isn’t “Henderickx-proof.”
Besides timpani, I’ll also play Middle Eastern percussion instruments like the daf and tombak. They add a whole new colour to the sound. They are also a reference to Wim, who used these instruments in his own compositions. During the concert, I’ll be playing Wim’s own daf.
Wim and I shared this fascination for music from all over the world. We often talked about how music isn’t just sound, but also movement and energy. Whether it’s Beethoven or Charlie Parker, you can study the notes endlessly, but without the groove, the music won’t come to life. As a timpanist, you’re the key to that. 'It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing.'
Finding the right timpanist for an orchestra isn’t easy. The timpani are the heart of the orchestra, where the energy of the ensemble comes together. It’s a key position and it’s not easy to find the right fit.
I’ll never forget my first experience with the Brussels Philharmonic. I had to step in at the last minute for Mahler’s Fifth Symphony with Avi Ostrowsky. It was an incredible opportunity—Ostrowsky has an exceptional baton for Mahler! I, on the other hand, was glad I even knew who Mahler was at the time. With no time to prepare, I sight-read the first rehearsal. I then spent the entire night studying to make sure I was fully prepared for the rehearsal the next day.
Music is everything to me. I’m always listening, discovering, and staying inspired—it just doesn’t end. From John Bonham of Led Zeppelin to the djembe master Adama Dramé, or Cuban salsa music. Speaking of salsa, I used to go out dancing salsa until the early hours. I absolutely loved it.
Wim and I shared this fascination for music from all over the world. We often talked about how music isn’t just sound, but also movement and energy. Whether it’s Beethoven or Charlie Parker, you can study the notes endlessly, but without the groove, the music won’t come to life. As a timpanist, you’re the key to that. “It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing.”
Open rehearsals: experience the orchestra up close and feel the power of our collective.Watch the rehearsal from a unique spot: the stalls on our Studio 4 stage. Afterwards, chat with someone from on or behind the stage—be it the conductor, soloist, musician, or a production team member.
"Wim had been developing a concept for a timpani concerto ... We decided to complete the concerto, true to Wim's spirit"
Speaking of heroes… cinema is full of them. They come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own iconic theme music. Robin Broos took on the task of exploring heroism in cinema. Dive into his curated film selection, where heroes come alive on the big screen.