It was a summer day in June 1922 when the Fanfarecorps Bovenkerk was founded in Amstelveen. Yesterday the music group, now Harmonie Orkest Amstelveen, celebrated its centenary. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side this time: at the very last minute the whole lot had to be moved indoors due to heavy rain showers.
A big disappointment, because on the square behind the renovated Noorddamcentrum, hard work had been done all day to build a stage under the smoke of the Urbanuskerk. After an extensive sound check, the harmonies would have sounded perfect in the open air, but things turned out differently. And that turned out to be no problem for the experienced amateurs. Within an hour they had everything installed inside and the center was overflowing with people.
Bovenkerk wind band celebrates 100th anniversary – NH Nieuws
Clarinetist Ger Stoker (75) glows with pride on Saturday when ‘his’ orchestra starts playing. He is the oldest member of the company and has been playing with the Harmonie Orkest for 37 years now. “We always enjoy going to the association, because we love making music together again,” says Ger when NH Nieuws visits him in the afternoon.
The clarinetist practices one last time in his living room. “Practicing at home sometimes falls short,” admits Ger. “Fortunately, our conductor is sharp. After every rehearsal he says: ‘Guys, practice at home!’”
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The marching band in 1927
The fanfare during the 1959 Flower Parade on the Sportlaan
KRO concert in the early 1970s
Harmony Orchestra late 90s
Concert in the Amstelveense Urbanuskerk
It pays off. That evening, under the baton of conductor Nico Schimmel, the orchestra will concentrate on a specially composed repertoire that ranges from classical to more modern hits, such as Coldplay, and evergreens such as ‘It’s raining men’.
The Harmonie Orkest started out in 1920 as a brass band with a big band, drum band and mini majorettes. At that time, there was hardly any sitting played. In 1959, for example, the corps mached over the Sportlaan during the Flower Parade. The Harmonie Orkest has always been a family orchestra. For example, several generations of Botman, Schuit and Verhoef played or still play along.
In 1985 woodwinds were added and it became a Harmonie Orkest, one of them was Ger. The Harmonie Orkest is subsidized by the municipality and provides the music during important events such as King’s Day, Remembrance Day and Veterans Day. “Amstelveen gives us something and we Amstelveen”, says Ger. The orchestra played countless times in the Urbanuskerk, which has now almost been restored after the fire in 2018.
A lot has changed since Ger joined the Harmonie Orkest in 1985. “Back then we still wore those blue suits and sometimes even a cap. The youth of today really don’t wear that anymore,” he laughs. And there is certainly young growth; the youngest member is 14 years old.
Ger has the best memories of the trip the orchestra members made to Berlin. “We were able to give a concert there in a hotel where 600 guests were present,” he says enthusiastically. And of course the unforgettable rehearsal weekends, when we play from early in the morning until late at night. evening at the bar, because we always say: ‘no sound without drink'”, laughs Ger.
Will Harmonieorkest Bovenkerk ever cease to exist? “Impossible”, the clarinetist answers firmly. “I may not experience it again, but we will also get those two hundred.”