On Brabançonne was a birthday present for Els Maeckelberghe in the year 2002. The national anthem of Belgium (the Brabançonne) is incorporated in this composition in the form of a cantus firmus (rhythmically altered) as a celebration to Els, her motherland and all the great renaissance composers who were born in that (very fruitful) region. Els played the second cello at the first performance. The slurs in the score and parts indicate frasing rather than bowing. In this recording all three parts are played by Peter Garfield. A performance by a regular string trio is possible, but a cello trio is preferred (or may be even better: a cello orchestra).

photo by Eltjo de Lang