Solar Storm

Voted for the top class of the ONSK 2025 I wrote the composition Solar Storm. I was inspired by the many solar storms that are currently impacting our planet and that cause, among other things, the very active Northern Lights.

The work consists of four parts, each of which expresses an aspect of the solar storms:

Outer Space (introduction)
We zoom in from the earth to the sun in a journey through the enormous universe. The exciting, unknown and ominous of space can be heard in the chimes and the vibraphones. The floating sounds without fixed tonality give the feeling that you are floating through the universe.

Towards Sunlight (main theme)
The main theme of the composition first comes to the fore in this short section, which focuses on the indispensable side of the sun. The sun is the source of warmth and life for the earth, which can be heard in the majestic and warm melody. At the same time, in the interplay – the melody builds from small to large(s) – you increasingly also feel the immensity of the sun.

Solar flares and Disorder
On the other hand, the sun is primarily an unpredictable ball of gas, on which solar flares cause disruptions in the magnetic field. This part of the piece therefore consists of irregular time signatures, turbulent passages and moments in which the ensemble seems to explode. The snare drum plays an important soloistic role. At the end of this long section, a resting point (the dolce) follows with marimba solo in which the calm and emptiness of the universe are expressed in sound.

Traveling Particles
Through colorful instrumentation we continue the journey that the particles make towards the earth and the effect that they subsequently have on our planet. The gradual musical acceleration culminates in the sound of the collision of the particles on the magnetic upper layer of the earth, after which the Northern Lights are created that can be seen in northern areas of our planet. In the composition this forms the climax with the recurring main theme and variations on previously played melodies.

Bells
Chimes
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Xylophone
Marimba 1
Marimba 2
Marimba 3
Marimba 4
Timpani

Percussion 1
Snare Drum, Hi-Hat, Ride Cymbal, Triangle, 2x Woodblock

Percussion 2
Barchimes, SC, Bongo's, Congas, Crasher, Vibraslap, Beatring on stand, Tambourine (shared with perc. 4)

Percussion 3
Concert Toms (4x), Crotales (D), Belltree

Percussion 4
Steel Sheet, SC, Cymb.A2, Splash Cymb., Little Shaker

Percussion 5
Tam-Tam, Whip, Claves, Cabassa, Cymbals A2 (shared with perc. 4)

Percussion 6
Concert Bass Drum, Small Bass Drum, Finger Cymbals