Kevin Houben: Ray of Light: Orchestre d'Harmonie

Ray of light was composed for the 75th anniversary of the Royal Wind Band (De Heidegalm Berkenbos). The mining environment of Berkenbos (Heusden-Zolder, B) is a proof of what used to be one of the most flourishing industries inLimburg viz. the Mining Industry. Going down the shaft in the elevator for the first time was a sensational experience for every miner: the noise of the closing doors, the shock experienced when the lift cage started moving tofall down whizzingly into the deep at a speed of 30 km an hour. The opening theme of Ray of Light doesn’t only reflect the bravery of the descending miners but also their anxiety, their doubt and insecurity. In the solo passage,the anxiety during the long walk in the dark through the mine corridors with only headlamps and mine lamps is clearly audible. Working in the mines wasn’t without any danger. The very flammable and at times explosive mine gasesalways posed a hidden threat. Apart from that there was always the continuous danger of collapse. The beautiful choral movements are therefore an ode to the miners that left their lives in the mine. The eastern scale refers tothe multicultural character of the mining environment of Berkenbos with its many commercial shops and different types of housing inherent in mining architecture. The mining profession is still a very dangerous job, but at the endof the dark corridor the miners still see a beam of light as a sign of hope.