Jan de Haan

Mirage

The composition Mirage is inspired by the ghost ship from the legend "The Flying Dutchman", a story deeply rooted in seafaring culture. The ship, condemned to sail the seas forever, often appears on the horizon like a mirage – a mysterious phenomenon in which reality and illusion merge imperceptibly.

In the play Mirage, this mystical phenomenon is to be brought to life. The piece begins with a mysterious and at the same time wonderful atmosphere, which creates the illusion of a mirage. The listener is whisked away to the wide sea, where the boundaries between reality and the unreal blur and the ghostly silhouette of a ship gradually becomes visible. But suddenly the sound changes and powerful rhythms and stormy harmonies follow, expressing the ship's fight against the raging forces of nature. After this intense section, in which the musicians reach their limits, the tranquility of the sea returns. The recurring mirages inspired the composer to create a lyrical middle section in which various soloists tell their stories within this legend. In the last part of the piece, the sails are hoisted again and the three-master continues its endless journey.