Jacob de Haan

The River Knows Your Name

This work describes the way the German river Saar holds the names of all the people who once lived in the area and of those who live there now. The introduction depicts the river flowing toward its confluence with the Mosel. The first names revealed by the river, in a dance, are those of the Romans, who established their first settlement here. Then the beautiful Saar Cathedral is portrayed, where believers give voice to the names of the people they know. Next, a powerful passage resounds: a reflection of the entrepreneurial spirit in Dillingen that has taken shape through the famous metal industry. Via a short clarinet solo, the work flows toward its conclusion in an emotional, stirring fashion, from nostalgic strains to full-blown euphoria.