The 2nd movement of The Venetian Collection refers to a painting by the Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico, and was commissioned by the Banda Civica di Soncino [Italy]. One of the main towers of the ancient walls that surround the medieval town of Soncino, La rocca sforzesca, has a significant resemblance with the tower on De Chirico’s painting. De Meij has constructed an exciting and warm-blooded work, based on a simple four-note motif, with lyric solo passages for bassoon, bass clarinet and soprano saxophone in the middle section. In November of 2000, THE RED TOWER was awarded 1st Prize in the International Composition Competition of OMAN. (Duration 8:30)