From 3 to 1000  is a piece for a group of saxophones with many different possibilities for the number of performers. Three musicians are enough to perform this work and all imaginable combinations are possible. Specially written for large groups, this work was performed at Dinant in 1994 and 1998 by a group of 1.236 saxophonists conducted by the composer.

On the last evening of each International Saxophone Competition in Dinant there is a popular gathering of over one thousand saxophone players for a mass concert at the bottom of the great Dinant church. In 2002 Alain Crepin was invited to write a piece for large saxophone ensemble for this special event. The composer used the popular Dinant folk song “Les batteurs de cuivre” (the coppersmiths) and arranged it in three different styles, by making delicate use of harmonies that might surprise many of Dinant residents. This piece is written for a saxophone ensemble with variable geometry.

Since 1994 (centenary of the passing away of Adolphe Sax) the saxophone and the saxophone players invade and occupy the city of Dinant once every four years on the occasion of the prestigious international saxophone competition. Moreover  a huge gathering of saxophonists each time beats the previous record of the greatest saxophone orchestra in the world. The inhabitants of Dinant now currently talk about a real “looting” of their city by the instrument invented by the city’s most illustrious child. As coordinator of the International Adolphe Sax Association and as a friend of Alain Crepin, Marc Baeken proposed this pun as title for the original composition written for the opening of the spectacular mass concert on the 11^th of November 2006. The work consists of three linked movements which will vibrate through the Dinant valley.