Su Ballu 'e s'Arza + S'Accabadora (Hardy Mertens) / premiere 07-12-2025 @ Conservatorio Cagliari

On 10 August 2018 "Su Ballu 'e s'Arza" ("The Dance of the Black Widow Spider") was written by Hardy Mertens. Score : unison melody for alternating cello soloist and clarinets, 3 percussion parts. Duration : approximately 2 minutes. This prologue to "S'Accabadora" introduces the victim (cello soloist) after being bitten by a lethal Argia. To neutralize the poison she dances the "Sardinian tarantella". Trapped in a violent trance, she enters a world of madness and darkness. Her dance is demonic, aggressive, and terrifying. In May 2019 "S'Accabadora" ("She who terminates") was written by Hardy Mertens. Score : narrator, cello soloist, wind band. Duration : approximately 18 minutes. The victim (cello soloist) recovers and transforms into a mercy killer (accabadora). Commissioned by Banda Musicale Monastir and inspired by the secret ritual of euthanasia in Sardinian communities, "S'Accabadora" presents the request by the desperate victim, the agony of the suffering victim, the arrival of the Angel of Death, and the three final hammerblows applied by her. ANGELO DELLA MORTE is the accabadora's song of schizophrenia. On one hand, she is a killer; on the other, a savior. This combination breaks her heart and causes her immense suffering. ULTIMO MARTELLO is ruthlessly violent music. With deep conviction and discipline, she forces herself to do something intensely frightening. Her lethal hammer is both a blessing and a curse. EPILOGUE is the sound of contemplation, captivated between good and evil. Is euthanasia good or bad? How many more times? Will this ever be her end as well? The dramatic and mysterious narration in Italian was written by Marco Angius, translated into Sardinian by Carla Asunis, and translated into English by Jessica Murtas. On this night without stars I can hear your steps coming near my bedside, deathbed of a doomed future. My time has come, after immense suffering, after worthless remedies waiting for a miracle of an absent God. My cries of pain are empty, my moans are like a miserable song. Free me from all evil And grant me eternal rest. I can hear your steps, the final dance, a song of death, notes of eternal life. Tears and prayers are coming towards me. Mother, don’t cry. Father, it’s not your fault. Brother, protect. Amen. Here you are, oh Accabadora. You’re here for me now. Show me your face covered by a black veil. Show me your face, it will be the last one I see. I recognise your face. Here you are, oh Accabadora. You’re here for me now. I recognise your eyes. Here you are, oh Accabadora. My destiny wants you here for me. One summer evening, among thousands of faces among feasts and dances chants scents flavours, your eyes, like stars, they brightened my heart. I chose you. I chose myself. A dark lady, silent and lethal, that evening, she destroyed it forever, my hidden and unspoken love. I have always loved you, brave woman. I have always loved you, and you have always loved me. You have waited for me, lovely blue-eyed lady, for our last encounter. Quietly, without a word. Quietly, with devoted love. Man of God, don’t judge this woman. Honest woman, messenger of a sweet death. Man of God, don’t judge this woman, forgive her deeds. Free her. Here you are, oh Accabadora. You’re here for me now. Take me to mysterious paths. I’m not afraid, you’re here for me now. Oh Accabadora give me life because I was dead long ago. With love. Now give me life. I will love you forever. Eternally. Amen. The world premiere performances of both pieces took place on Sunday 7 December 2025 @ Auditorium del Conservatorio di Cagliari. Performers : narrator Vincenzo La Ferla, cellist Cristina Bellu, and Banda Musicale Monastir conducted by Alessandro Cabras. A morbid coverage of the shadows of life... Sweet death, light from darkness... https://bandamonastir.it/ https://www.musicalta.com/project/cri... http://www.hardymertens.nl https://www.hafabramusic.com