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
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