Jan de Haan

Inspiration

Inspiration was commissioned by the Solothurnischer Kanotonal Musikverband in Switzerland in 1993. The composition begins with an A-theme written in a Phrygian tonality and, after an enormous climax, moves on into a quicker B-section, characterized by the use of wide interval jumps. Then follows the development in which both themes return individually and together. Peace and quiet is restored in the slow middle movement, based on the B-theme. The movement comes to a close with a tutti B-theme, brutally interrupted by fragments from the A-theme. Without a break, the final movement of this contrastive piece develops from these fragments. The theme of this extremely rhythmical closing movement is built up of elements from the A-theme, whilst the B-theme (from the slow middle movement) returns in full once more. Before the piece comes to a close in a resounding fortissimo, the cornet soloist performs the A-theme from the back of the auditorium, to special effect.