A NIGHT ON CULBIN SANDS, Op. 38 no. 1
for large wind orchestra, 1999, duration 11 min.
Inspired by Gordon Bottomley's Play 'Culbin Sands'

Commissioned by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy

First performance: 22 April 2000. Concert Hall, Kyoto, Japan

Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy conducted by Maurice Hamers

Dedicated to Maurice Hamers and the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Written for and first performed by one of the best professional wind orchestras, the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the piece was subsequently selected to serve as a Concert Division test piece for the 2001 World Music Contest in Kerkrade. To date there are three CD recordings for sale; see the homepage of Alexander Comitas.

There is also an version for symphony orchestra.



In 1999 the composer wrote the following introduction to the piece:

'The barony Culbin was once the most fertile part of its region, Western Moray in Northern Scotland. But it all changed from one day to the next. During an autumn night in 1686, just before the harvest was to be collected, a heavy storm broke out; a tempest, carrying enormous amounts of sand, which all came down on the barony. All at once the harvest was completely ruined.

But this proved to be only the beginning. Many similar sand storms followed, and as a result the whole region, including all houses, farms and the barony's mansion, became completely buried under the sand within a few years time.

In 1931 the Scottish playwright Gordon Bottomley wrote a one act play entitled 'Culbin Sands'. In this play he introduced four witches, descendants of the witches...
    ...who prophesied King Duncan's death;
Indeed: descendants of the witches appearing in Shakespeare's Macbeth (which is enacted in more or less the same region). In Bottomley's play the sand storms appear to have been evoked by witchcraft
    Because Kinnaird (then baron of Culbin) had driven us off his land
    Calling us witches.
The combination of the historical facts and Bottomley's one act play gave me an idea for a piece of music for large wind orchestra. A rather simple idea, by the way: the listener witnesses a night on Culbin Sands, a place that is obviously bewitched. At first everything is quiet, even though one can feel a certain tension. But then a storm breaks loose. This storm reaches a climax and then dies down. At the end of the piece everything is 'quiet' again...'

A mini score of the piece will be sent upon request, at a small fee. Full score, study score and parts are for sale.



A standard set of parts consists of the following:
  • 4-Flutes I & II
  • 4-Piccolo I & Flute III, doubling on Piccolo II
  • 2-Oboes I & II
  • 2-Bassoon I & Bassoon II, doubling on Contrabassoon

  • 1-Eb Clarinet
  • 6-First Clarinets in Bb (at least 4)
  • 6-Second Clarinets in Bb (at least 4)
  • 6-Third Clarinets, in Bb (at least 4)
  • 1-Alto Clarinet in Eb
  • 2-Bass Clarinet in Bb & Contrabass Clarinet in Bb

  • 4-Alto Saxophones in Eb I & II
  • 2-Tenor Saxophone in Bb
  • 1-Baritone Saxophone in Eb

  • 1-Eb Trumpet
  • 4-Bb Trumpets I & III
  • 4-Bb Cornets I & III
  • 4-Horns in F I, III & V + 3 parts in Eb
  • 3-Horns in F II & IV + 2 parts in Eb

  • 4-Trombones I & II (parts in C in bass clef) + 2 parts in Bb in bass clef + 2 parts in Bb in treble clef
  • 4-Trombone III & Bass Trombone (parts in C in bass clef) + 2 parts in Bb in bass clef + 2 parts in Bb in treble clef
  • 2-Baritones (Euphoniums) I & II (parts in C in bass clef) + 2 parts in Bb in bass clef + 2 parts in Bb in treble clef
  • 2-Baritones (Euphoniums) III & IV (parts in C in bass clef) + 2 parts in Bb in bass clef + 2 parts in Bb in treble clef
  • 2-Eb Basses (Bass Tubas) I, II & Bb Basses (Bass Tubas) I, II (parts in C in bass clef) + 4 transp. parts in bass clef + 4 transp. parts in treble clef

  • 2-String Bass (Contrabass) with E string tuned down to D

  • 2-Harp & Keyboards
  • Keyboards (1 player):Celesta (preferably a real one; if a MIDI keyboard is used, the Celesta sound should be clearly perceptible)
  • MIDI Keyboard with Cembalo sound

  • 1-Timpani
  • 4-Percussion I - IV
  • (Percussion I: Suspended Cymbal, Pair of Cymbals
  • Percussion II: Glockenspiel, 2 Tomtoms (High, Low)
  • Percussion III: Marimba, Snare Drum, Tam-tam
  • Percussion IV: Vibraphone (always with motor off), Bass Drum)

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