Thomas Asanger

Stadt, Land, Fluss

With the composition Stadt, Land, Fluss the Upper Austrian composer Thomas Asanger takes us on an exciting journey along the river Aist, which runs through the market town of Schwertberg (Austria). A pentatonic melody, which is heard at the beginning, symbolizes the river and is used throughout the composition. The starting point of the journey is the so-called ‘Josefsthal'. Other landmarks include Schwertberg, the market square with ecclesiastical and secular festivals, parks and residential areas, the public music school, and businesses in the village. The market town of Schwertberg combines urban and rural flair with a variety of educational, professional, residential, and leisure opportunities for its more than 5,000 residents, making it an important center of life for the area. Stadt, Land Fluss was commissioned by the Musikverein Schwertberg in 2018 for the occasion of its 150th anniversary. It was premiered at the Volksheim Schwertberg on November 10, 2018.

Program note: At bar 117, a small ensemble plays a traditional march/polka during the chorale played by the woodwind players. As soon as the chorale is finished, the small ensemble continues and is soon accompanied by aleatoric pitches from the rest of the band. Eventually a fortissimo cluster gets the upper hand and the ensemble disappears into the rhythmic finale.