Jan de Haan

Earthquake

On average, about eight thousand (mostly light) earthquakes occur worldwide each day. The stronger earthquakes often take place in the earth's surface below the sea and in unpopulated regions. It is the heavy earthquakes in populated regions that draw most attention - because of the damage and the victims that are often involved. Composer Jan de Haan has always been fascinated by this natural phenomenon. When he was commissioned to write the test piece for the championship section of the Dutch Brass Band Championships of 2005, for him this was at last the chance to take the earthquake phenomenon as a starting point for a composition.