La Antigua

With this work, composer Jacob de Haan depicts a procession of the inhabitants of the Basque town Zumarraga to the hermitage of Santa María La Antigua in the mountains nearby. The music, that has carefully been built around the repeated rhythm of the town’s name, varies from meditative and hymn-like to emotional and powerful. Thus, it is a atmospheric piece with plenty of musical appeal.

When you go into the mountains from the Basque town of Zumarraga, you’ll eventually arrive at the hermitage of Santa María La Antigua. This special parish temple has a long history; it was originally built on a defensive fortress dating from the twelfth century. In this composition, we follow the inhabitants of the town of Zumarraga, who go to La Antigua to pray for their town and to express their gratitude for their wellbeing.

The work opens mysteriously, with the soloist introduction of the main theme, accompanied by a lonely church bell and a devout declamation of the town’s name. The repetitive rhythmic structure of this name is a connecting thread throughout the composition. The meditative sounds immediately lead to the tutti, where the percussion takes over the rhythm, and the main theme is played by the brass. All this is alternated by soft passages emulating the atmosphere of a hymn.

The inhabitants climb the mountain with melancholic music in a peaceful rhythmic movement, flowing into a more powerful rendition of the same melody. When they approach La Antigua, they hear soft religious music coming from the temple. On top of the mountain, they are welcomed with enthusiasm. As soon as they then enter the temple, reciting the name ‘Zumarraga!’ in adoration, we hear a slow, spiritual melody that is accompanied by a number of percussion instruments. Next, this melody can be heard as a hymn, accompanied by the whole band. Here, the impressive construction, atmosphere and acoustics of La Antigua converge with the emotion of the music. After the gathering, those present descend the mountain and go back to Zumarraga. We hear the main theme return vigorously, whereupon the proud inhabitants come home strengthened and comforted. After the closing chord, a jubilant ‘Zumarraga!’ rings out through the streets one last time.

In 2019, Jacob de Haan himself conducted the first performance of this composition in La Antigua. On the 23rd of September 1965, Templo de la Antigua was declared a national historic-artistic monument and on the 27th of July 1984 it was declared a Basque historic-artistic monument.