MISERERE (The Economy of Salvation)

The Concept: The “Rolling Suitcase” Pilgrim

Inspired by the moral chaos of Jheronimus Bosch, the piece draws a direct line between the Medieval Indulgence and the modern “Rolkofferpelgrim” (Rolling Suitcase Pilgrim).

In the 15th century, the wealthy bought letters of indulgence to avoid the pains of Purgatory. Today, modern tourists on the Camino de Santiago pay luggage services to transport their bags, seeking the spiritual status of the pilgrimage without the physical suffering. Vrolijk exposes the tragedy of this “transactional soul”—the delusion that we can outsource our atonement and buy the “Easy Way Out.”

The Text: The Verdict – The Ideal of Penance

The libretto, curated by the composer, centers on the terrifying double meaning of the line from Elckerlijc (Everyman): “Mi es bevolen dat ic moet reysen” (“I am commanded that I must journey”).

• The Juridical Meaning: It is the voice of the medieval convict, sentenced to a penal pilgrimage as punishment for a crime.
• The Existential Meaning: It is the voice of the mortal soul facing death.

This line cuts through the noise of the marketplace, reminding the listener that while you can buy an Indulgence or a luxury hiking package, you cannot bribe the Judge to avoid the final journey.

‘The moments of light and darkness that toss you back and forth as a pilgrim are embodied by thundering orchestral strikes and rhythmic jabs from the brass and percussion, carving a path through a contemplative, praying choir.’

– NRC ★★★★

Musical Iconography: Angels & Vendors

Vrolijk treats the ensemble as a landscape of delusion and reality, using specific textures to dramatize the conflict:

• The Veneer of Purity (The Women): The women of the choir sing in an “almost angelic” fashion. Their texture is beautiful and floating, representing the image of sanctity the wealthy sinner tries to buy—the “Instagram filter” over a flawed reality.

• The Transaction (The Men): The male voices cut through this beauty with the roughness of market vendors, hawking their wares: “Koopt de aflate” (Buy the indulgence!). They reveal the commercial machinery behind the spiritual façade.

• The Reality (The Orchestra): Beneath the voices, the orchestra exposes the truth. Tuned Anvils mimic the “helsche slage” (hellish blows)—the industrial sound of judgment—while “seufzeresk” (sighing) strings betray the physical exhaustion of the convict who must walk the path for real.