Octopus is the 10th release of the Millennium Jazz Orchestra, one of the finest bigbands in The Netherlands. Conductor Joan Reinders writes modern compositions with influences from jazz and classical music. His work contains many contrapuntal and polyphonic techniques that stem from the classical music tradition. It stands out from most bigband compositions through the through-composed character of melodies and the use of interval relationships that usually play a significant role.
As a composer, Joan Reinders finds inspiration and motivation by constantly seeking out innovative aspects. Inspired by many classical composers, who in their quest for new narrative orchestral effects were able to develop a wonderful orchestration technique, he has written the Octopus suite.

Photo: Hardy Klink

Octopus is a suite inspired by the remarkable, unique creature that the octopus is. The octopus has eight tentacles and hence this work consists of eight parts. The octotonic scale, which consists of eight tones and in which the full and half distances regularly alternate, is the musical theme or Leitmotiv of this suite.
Hence the constantly recurring Leitmotiv is composed from this melodic material. The unity of the eight pieces is also important, in which the emphasis is on surprise and idiosyncrasy, without losing the unity.
Octopi have a very unusual physique.
The octopus moves by jet-propulsion.
Among cephalopods, the octopus is one of the worst swimmers.
Food of the octopus includes crabs, lobsters, fish and sometimes even other cephalopods.
Do octopi practice sex? Not really, a male and female will only seek each other out in order to reproduce.
All this, and more, is set to music by the Millennium Jazz Orchestra. Come on and dive into the deep!