Kevin Houben

Paladin

Paladin (heroic knight) was written for the music society De Heibloem from Meeuwen, Belgium and tells the story of the disastrous Saint Nicholas Day of 1648. In the first half of the seventeenth century, the mercenary armies of Karel van Lorreinen terrorized several villages in the province of Limburg. Between 1, 500 and 1, 600 farmers gathered in Peer on December 6, 1648, to battle against the cruel mercenaries who looted and burned down their villages. The brave farmers did not stand a chance and were ambushed in Meeuwen and within quarter of an hour there were four hundred fatalities and at least as many wounded. In history books, this encounter is referred to as the shortest battle ever. A truly heroic work suitable for all concert programmes.