The Cotton Phoenix is the first part of the two-part work 'Metropolis of the East” and describes the influence of the textile industry on the development of Enschede. The composition begins introducing the Enschede-theme. After a big fire, the city rises from the ashes and the textile industry reaches a peak. The second part describes the liberation after the war, where Enschede, thanks to the industry, is able to recover. The piece ends with the Enschede-theme; the city in its present form.
