Coffee in the Red Light - For Brass Band

Commissioned by Brass Band Schoonhoven for the 2025 Brass in Concert Championships.
 
A curious traveller finds themself in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, drawn in by the vibrant
atmosphere. In a moment of spontaneity, they eat a hash cake, unaware of its strength. At first,
they feel relaxed and joyful—everything seems amusing and carefree. As the effects intensify,
their surroundings become strange and hypnotic, and time begins to lose meaning. Suddenly,
anxiety takes hold. Their thoughts race, and they swing between panic and bursts of excitement, unsure of what’s real.
 
Delusions follow—familiar things twist into unfamiliar shapes, and their sense of reality slips away. They become isolated, lost in the crowd yet completely alone. Finally, frustration erupts into rage—at themself, at the experience, at the world around them. Coffee in the Red Light is a story of innocence, altered perception, and emotional descent—a cautionary tale wrapped in surreal adventure.