Jelle Tasseyns

Overture To The Three Angels

This overture was written in 2000 and pays homage to the composer Paul Hindemith. The composition is based on Es sungen drei Engel. The song dates back to the 12th century and was originally a Christmas carol. Mahler used this melody in his 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn' and in the finale of his third symphony. Paul Hindemith also uses this melody as a chorale in the 'Engelkonzert' of his 'Mathis der Maler' symphony. This melody is not only used extensively in the 'Overture to The Three Angels', it also forms the main theme of the entire central piece. In this central piece, the melody can first be heard as a fugue by the woodwind instruments and then by the brass instruments and ultimately ends in a grand tutti which features all the themes of the entire work. The first and the last part of the composition are not based directly on the chorale melody but constitute a contemporary commentary of the central part. These are not literal references but rather the sounds of the heralds.