Hardy Mertens

The Three Storms (Fanfarenorchester)

3 alto saxophones. Originally written in 1987 for fanfare band, this work was adapted for wind band by Jose Schyns in 1999. This piece for 3 alto saxophones and wind orchestra is a symphonic poem based on a Chinese legend in which the fight between good and evil has a central place. The composition is in six movements which flow into one another: 1.The sink of Darkness 2.The trace of evil 3.The love for Jade Moon 4.The epithalamium (+ cadenza) 5.The trace of good 6.The lifting of the curse. It begins in the sink of Darkness where the eternal damned spirit of the Emperor Lo Pan was wandering and looking for the three storms in the middle of marsh and monsters. With the help of a magic formula, Lo Pan succeeded in gaining control of the three storms, in the aspects of Power, Speed and Magic (The trace of evil). The four of them show, with a trace of evil, their destroying influence on people and nature. It was however predicted that the evil spirit of Lo Pan would turn into a good spirit by seeing the virgin with the green eyes. In the love of Jade Moon it becomes clear how the true love of a women can convert a man. Then follows the bridal dance (The epithalamium), in which Power, Speed and Magic partici-pate. It is also a swan song, because Lo Pan converts to a good man, he no longer engages with the evil influence of the three storms (the end of the cadenza). The trace of good manifests itself, and Lo Pan's ardent wish is to be re-born and to find peace as a good and honest man. The three storms consider themselves defeated. When the curse of Lo Pan is lifted, the three storms are sent back to the sink of Darkness, where they have to wait for the next evil master. (Power = Hubert CLAESSENS, Speed = Jacques CLAESSENS and Magic = Suzanne WELTERS)