Thomas Asanger

An Expression Of Joy

With 1180 inhabitants, Oberdrauburg is a small market town in the district of Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia (Austria). In its history, the town has had to overcome many setbacks and crises. The terrible fire disaster in the 19th century, in which more than 150 buildings burned down and many families lost their homes, the heavy air raids during the Second World War and the treacherous floods in Oberdrauburg's recent history are unforgettable. The developments of the global pandemic have not spared the people of the region either.

A common feature of all crises, such as those mentioned, is that they also present an opportunity: an opportunity for renewal and further development. It is therefore a good sign that, after a long social dry spell, a place of encounter is now being created with the Drauforum. This composition is an expression of this joy and confidence, which always comes to the fore in such turbulent times - especially for culture. An Expression Of Joy was commissioned by the Musikkapelle Oberdrauburg under the direction of Kapellmeister Anton Thaler.

The piece enables the orchestra to play broad musical arcs, and the piece also places rhythmic demands on the orchestra.