We live in the Netherlands, in the north to be exact (Westerwolde). Back in the early 80s, there was a famous local singer named Ede Staal. His songs were about the beauty of the northern countryside. Peaceful flourishing meadows, but also the darkness when a storm's approaching over the fields. The small villages with their beautiful windmills and steeples (one of them is specifically named in these lyrics).
Cynically enough Ede's songs became well-known in the rest of the Netherlands, only after he died...
We did a cover version of what we think was his most atmospheric and romantic song: Hogeland (The Highland). After we recorded this we visited Ede's widow. She told us many of Ede's songs were covered by various artists (some well-known Dutch artists as well). She liked our version and kindly gave permission to publish it on YouTube (and use it for local gigs).
We visited all the places Ede describes in Hogeland, and Anne-Marie made video recordings. So what you are seeing in the video is exactly what the song is about:
Style is ALBERTI.STY (Alberti Classical Piano) PianoCustom Synth is Synth/Plugin Loaded Style MIDI Instruments are : Acoustic Piano (1), Acoustic Piano (1), RealTracks in song: ~2051:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 085 RealTracks in song: 1757:Accordion, Rhythm Pop8ths Ev 085
For your convenience we've added an English translation:
It's the sky behind Uithuizen It's that steeple of Spijk It's the road from Leens to Klooster Through the Westpolder along the dike
It's the windmills, the canals It's the churches and the mansions It's the land where, as a child I had no sense of pains or worries
It's the windmills, it's the mansions...
It's a dovecote, a village street It's an old bakery It's the big farming towns Warffum, Usquert and Zijldijk
It's the wheat, it's the oats, It's the rapeseeds in bloom It's the horizon at Ranum When another storm brews
This is my land, my Highland...
It's May, a beautiful evening A cow lows softly in the land I'm with my very first girlfriend I can feel the tingling of her hand
Those wild plans I may have had Did not yet come to live Until the night of 't Hogeland Put a dark blanket over us
This is my land, my Highland
We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Beautiful country in the video. Accordian was a really nice touch in the arrangement. You guys always do such nice vocals and clear mixes. Great job on this one too.
Thanks Gordon, Charlie, Trevor and Josie. Yes, it may sound a bit like Cohen or Brel. Ede Staal's voice sounded a bit like that too. And here, in the Northern part of the Netherlands, he was just as famous as they were.
BTW, his picture at the end of the song was given to us by his widow.
Rob and Anne-Marie
We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows® Today!
If you’ve already purchased Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®, great news—a new update is now available! This update introduces a handy new feature: a vertical cursor in the Tracks window that shows the current location across all tracks, and more.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator
With Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®, we've introduced an exciting new feature: the AI Lyrics Generator! In this video, Tobin guides you step-by-step on how to make the most of this new tool.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator video.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows® now includes support for VST3 plugins, bringing even more creative possibilities to your music production. Join Simon as he guides you through the process in this easy-to-follow demonstration!
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Video: Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows: Using The BB Stem Splitter!
In this video, Tobin provides a crash course on using the new BB Stem Splitter feature included in Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®. During this process he also uses the Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) and the new Equalize Tempo feature.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using the BB Stem Splitter
Check out the forum post for some optional Tips & Tricks!
Congrats to Misha (Rustyspoon)…downloaded/installed a full Audiophile 2025!
Breaking News!
We’re thrilled to announce that Rustyspoon has made PG history as the very first person to successfully complete the download and install of the full Band-in-a-Box 2025 Windows Audiophile Edition (with FLAC files)—a whopping 610GB of data!
A big shoutout to Rustyspoon for stepping up to be our test "elf!"
With the launch of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows, we're adding new videos to our YouTube channel. We'll also share them here once they are published so you can easily find all the Band-in-a-Box® 2025 and new Add-on videos in one place!
Whether it's a summary of the new features, demonstrations of the 202 new RealTracks, new XPro Styles PAK 8, or Xtra Styles PAKs 18, information on the 2025 49-PAK, or detailed tutorials for other Band-in-a-Box® 2025 features, we have you covered!
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
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2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Windows 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
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