The composition ‘Katharos Overture’ is inspired by St. Catherine’s Church, the landmark of the picturesque mountain village of Hafling. This work was created on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Hafling brass band as a musical homage to the power and beauty of this special place.

The piece opens with striking trumpet fanfares and concise percussion interludes that symbolise power, grace and elegance. These powerful musical gestures refer to the long history of the place of power overlooked by St. Catherine’s Church.

This contrasts with the lyrical middle part, which is carried by the warm sounds of the woodwind register. The melody is deliberately simple, reminiscent of a traditional shepherd’s song that evokes a rural idyll. The musical developments take up characteristic elements of village life, with the tonal allusions to church bells particularly accentuated. These ultimately culminate in a dramatic minor chord that heightens the emotional intensity of the work.

The middle part ends in a heroic and brilliant crescendo, in which the entire orchestra shines in all its sonic splendour. A short reprise recalls the solemn beginning of the work and finally leads into the final section. Here, the musical tension is intensified once again: a deep pedal point base in the basses and powerful timpani strokes lend the music additional force. The dialogue between the brass and woodwind instruments intensifies in a cascade until the work reaches its crowning climax in an imposing final chord.

‘Katharos Overture’ is thus not only a tonal reflection of the impressive landscape and history of Hafling, but also a musical symbol of the freedom, sonic splendour, tradition and cohesion of a community.