Albert Hall Proms

This is the audio of the recent Prog Rock proms - 

Click here

If you go to 01:02:18 you will hear Sylvia by Focus played by a BBC Orchestra. (Chapter 12 I think it is).

More on The Focus Symphony

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Wedgeview Music – WVM2025009
Copyright © – Wedgeview Music – WVM2025009
Recorded At – The Academy One Studios Ghent
Arranged By – Roeland Jacobs (tracks: all)
Concept By – Rob van Weelde (tracks: all)
Conductor – Alexandra Arrieche (tracks: all)
Executive Producer – Rob van Weelde (tracks: all)
Flute – Sofia Gantois
Mastered By – Gert van Hof (tracks: All)
Mixed By – Patrick Lemmens (tracks: all)
Musical Assistance – Joel Workman (tracks: all)
Orchestra – Philharmonie Van Antwerpen (tracks: all)
Orchestrated By – Dominique Vanhaegenberg (tracks: all)
Producer – Roeland Jacobs (tracks: all)
Trumpet – Rob Boone, Teus Nobel

@&© 2025 WEDGEVIEW MUSIC-CAT.NR: WVM2025009

Total duration: 47:25 min

All symphonies are composed from 17 original Focus songs:

1st MOVEMENT:

1. Father Bach (Thijs van Leer)

2. La Cathedrale De Strasbourg (Thijs van Leer)

3. Focus (Thijs van Leer)

2nd MOVEMENT:

1. Le Clochard (Jan Akkerman)

2. Janis (Jan Akkerman)

3. Eruption (Thijs van Leer & Jan Akkerman)

4. Focus III (Thijs van Leer)

5. Focus II (Thijs van Leer)

6. La Cathedrale De Strasbourg (Thijs van Leer)

3rd MOVEMENT:

1. House Of The King (Jan Akkerman)

2. Hocus Pocus (Thijs van Leer & Jan Akkerman)

3. La Cathedrale De Strasbourg (Thijs van Leer)

4. Tommy (Tom Barlage)

5. Happy Nightmare - Mescaline (Thijs van Leer)

6. Focus IV (Thijs van Leer)

7. Love Remembered (Jan Akkerman)

4th MOVEMENT:

I. Focus II (Thijs van Leer)

2. Hamburger Concerto (Thijs van Leer)

3. Sylvia (Thijs van Leer)

The Dutch have always been known for their desire to travel the world. Perhaps it is more the desire to broaden our view which might become restricted by living with so many people in such a tiny country. So we travel to go to the Eifel Tower, the London Eye, The Statue of Liberty, you name it, and we forget our own Euromast.

Music wise it is no different. We, as WedgeView Music, honored The Beach Boys by making The Seven Symphonies, we honored The Beatles by making Another Seven Symphonies; we had very successful premieres on respectively the U.S. West Coast and in Liverpool and almost forgot the value of music that originates from the Netherlands.

But we didn't...

Focus, a group still alive today, made their mark on the world podium especially between 1970 and 1975 and how! They had hits all over the world and were starring in big shows in the USA, performed several times live on BBC etc. for Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman conquered the world with their compositions of progressive/symphonic rock influenced by some of the great classical composers. Not only the compositions themselves, but also the skills with which they performed them, were eye catching. This might explain why never ever a decent cover of their worldwide hit Hocus Pocus saw the light of day. The original was simply too tight and played too skillful for anybody else to even come close to it.

So we didn't try that either. What we tried is to bring prog-rock music often based on classical roots back to it's classical roots. This album is meant as a tribute to great compositions that withstand all comparisons to the likes of Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney. We believe in some cases even surpass them. We were greatly helped by Alexandra Arrieche and her marvelous and exciting Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra. They showed great skills in performing this extraordinary symphony with numerous solistic parts played by Sofia, Teus, Robby but also Maaike, Esther and so many others who contributed their fair share in this department. We are deeply thankful for the way they have given an eternal sound to Focus melodies!

Rob van Weelde

Executive Producer

The Focus Symphony

A documentary has been made around the orchestral version of the music of Focus.

Part One is here.
Part two is here.

Sylvia at the Proms

I notice that on July 18 next there is a promenade concert at the Royal Albert Hall on the thme of prog rock and including a four miute orchestral version of Sylvia. It will be telvised and on the radio. More here. This is not the first time Focus have enjoyed the classical treatment. See here for example.

Focus The Stables April 2026

It was good to see Focus once again at The Stables in Milton Keynes last night. Theplace was packed. Thijs has been unwell and so it was good to see him in fine fettle, even singing, and the rest of the band on fine form too. We began with Thijs on solo flute, We then had Focus 1 and a snippet of Anonymus (which Akkerman's latest version of would be very hard to beat). Then it was House of the King, a long Eruption which lost some of us a bit in parts, I fear. Then Focus 7 and finishing part one with Sylvia. After the break we had Focus 2, All hens on deck, La Cathedrale and then an extended Harem Scarem with lots of solos, which left me a little unmoved. They ended, of course, with Hocus Pocus and a long solo from Pierre van der Kinden. For their encore, thye not only did a beautifu Focus 3 but Answers Questions Questions Answers (where they can rival Akkerman as they have the flute too). Nice to speak briefly to Thijs before leaving.

Focus in the UK once again April 2026 (and Happy Birthday)

For some reason we tend not to note birthdays on this blog but today Thijs van Leer is 78 today. Happybirthday! Further, Focus will be here in the UK April 20-May 2. Notable dates from my point of view are the two in Wales April 27 (Cardiff, where I have seen them in the past) and May 2 (Newport, where I was born). Also April 28 (Wavendon, MK, where I hope to see them this time round). Other venues include Southampton, Aldershot and Trading Boundaries Nr Fletching, where I have seen Jan twice. They are coming here twice gain before year's end.

Death of Mike Vernon

CNRS, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Readers of this blog wil be sorry to hear of the recent death of Mike Vernon, the band's first producer in the UK. Most of the writing following his death has majored on Clapton and Fleetwood Mac but his services to Focus were, at the time, very important. He was 81. His voice can be heard, I believe, n the track Round goes the Gossip.

Under the Rainbow

The new live album from Jan Akkerman is out today. Some 8 of the 11 grow out of the Focus era. Well worth a listen.

A few days on stand outs for me are Focus 1 and Anonymus (complete with a Yankee doodle segment) both from the very earliest Focus album. Focus 2 excellent, no Focus 3 for some reason.

New live album by Akkerman coming

Former Focus guitarist Jan Akkerman has announced that he will release his latest solo album, My Focus - Live Under The Rainbow through Artone/Music Theories Recordings on December 12.

A live album, My Focus - Live Under The Rainbow was recorded during Akkemran's February tour which saw him and his band playing Bush Hall (London) which I was at, The Fire Station (Sunderland), Philharmonic Hall (Liverpool), Oran Mor (Glasgow), The Met (Bury), The Stables (Wavendon) and The Apex (Bury St. Edmunds), and features some of Focus' classic tunes.

"Live audiences give you the tension and responsibility to be creative, for me, that's the challenge I like," he says. "It's my love to play for people all around the world. I play these songs because my soul and heart are in there. It's a God given talent I have, which makes me feel proud of myself!"

Track listing (vinyl)

Side 1

1. Answers Questions - Questions Answers (Live)
2. Focus 2(Live)
3. Focus 1 (Live)
4. Anonymous (Live)
5. Sylvia (Live)
Side 2

1. Big Sur (Live)
2. Tommy's Anniversary (Live)
3. Pietons (Live)
4. Hocus Pocus (Live)

CD/Digital

Spiritual Privacy
Answers Questions – Questions Answers
Focus 2
Focus 1
Palace Of The King
Anonymous
Big Sur
Tommy’s Anniversary
Piétons
Hocus Pocus
Sylvia

Old Photo

 

I found this the other day. I broke my leg many years ago and Jan Akkerman kindly signed the cast at one of his concerts. Actors (may be musicians) say break a leg when about to go on stage.

Plot for a movie

Musician Jan Akkerman - once the guitarist in the brilliant Dutch prog rock band Focus - arrives on the remote but picturesque Wallis Island for a performance. He is welcomed by Gary, an awkward but enthusiastic fan who has arranged the show for "less than a hundred" people. Brought to stay at Gary's home, Jan is presented with his £500,000 fee as a suitcase of cash, and fends off questions about his breakup with his former collaborator, Thijs van Leer.

Jan's waterlogged phone forces him to use the payphone at the local shop and Gary reveals the makeshift "venue" on the beach, admitting he is the show's sole audience. Having won the lottery, Gary spent his winnings travelling the world then won again and retired to the island. Jan phones his manager, having decided to take the gig in order to finance a new album, but is surprised by the arrival of Thijs.

Gary is thrilled to have reunited Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer for the first time in years, but old tensions flare between Thijs, whose solo career has taken a possibly more "commercial" direction, and Jan, who does his own thing, and discovers Gary is paying him more. Jan attempts to leave in the morning, but stays after Thijs confides in him that he needs the money.

Gary's souvenirs include one of Jan's old guitars and what turns out to be a counterfeit hat supposedly belonging to Thijs. Discovering more mementos, Jan and Thijs reconnect as they rehearse their old music for a deeply moved Gary. Playing snooker with Jan, Gary insists there is still a future for the two musically.

Jan and Thijs bring Gary to spend a joyful "Seaman's Day" on the beach, writing wishes on sky lanterns and releasing them at sunset. Staying up to play together, Jan tells Thijs he is still keen for them to make music together, but Thijs reveals that he is contracted to play with Focus as currently set up for the next 12 years. Leaving a real hat of his for an understanding Gary, who urges him to continue writing music, Thijs departs.

Lashing out at Gary, Jan packs his things, including his old guitar, and storms off in the rain but returns to the house. When a despondent Jan swims to retrieve one of the lanterns, Gary assumes he has thrown himself into the sea and wades in to save him, but Jan rescues Gary instead. Having arranged the concert, Gary accepts that forcing a reunion was a mistake and offers to pay Jan anyway. Jan decides for some reason to do the show anyway. Gary arrives on the beach with his wife, where Jan performs for them into the night, dedicating a final song to them.

The next day, Jan thanks Gary as they part ways, hugging him goodbye. At home, Gary discovers that Jan left the money and his guitar, signed with his name — "Your biggest fan, Jan Akkerman". As the credits play, Jan records a new song, "The Ballad of Wallis Island".

No Hang Ups Live on TV in Denmark 1974

I lied

 

Okay, last one

 

And more Lego

 

More Lego

 

AI Fun

 

Jan Akkerman in London Feb 2025

Jan Akkerman has been dong a brief "My Focus" tour of the UK and I was able to see him last night in Shepherd's Bush last night with a ministerial friend of mine. This was the final concert of the tour. Mr Akkerman was on fine form and played mostly Focus numbers incuding Answers Questions Questions ANswers, which he co-wrote with the late Bert Ruiter. I particularly enjoyed Anonymus (with a bit of Yankee Doodle thrown in for good measure). The band were as tight as ever and we enjoyed brief solos from the bass and drums. Jan himself seemed happy enough most of the time. Bush Hall was full and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. It's weird to think that much of this music was wrtten fifty years ago or so. 

Hamburger Concerto Harmonic Profile (from GetSongKey)

 

Focus 3 Harmonic Profile (from GetSongKey)