Town of the Seven Hills

This suite tells the story of the French city of Tulle in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Tulle, which, like Rome and Lisbon, is built on 7 hills, is picturesquely situated along the river Corrèze.

The first part has a stately introduction and is continued by a historical march through the streets of Tulle. We pass the Notre Dame cathedral and the characteristic houses from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, such as the ‘Maison de Loyac.’ Tulle was once the centre of the production of tulle, named after the city.

The second part is about that, which at times sounds very graceful because of the use of tulle in ballet skirts and wedding dresses. The third part is music in memory of the massacre of Tulle in June 1944. A large number of citizens of Tulle were killed by a reprisal by the German SS. The emotions consist of a combination of sadness and consolation.

The last part features the festive sounds of the annual fair in May on the Champs de Mars and the Place de la Cathédrale.