A horn player made of sand played a flat note when she collapsed just as sculptors put the finishing touches to her.
The 9ft high work of art was almost complete when it collapsed just hours before its public unveiling.
Brassed-off sculptors Jamie Wardley and Claire Jamieson are now working against the sands of time to rebuild the statue in Crail.
Each year during the East Neuk Festival, the Sand in Your Eye team create a stunning sand sculpture in the village’s High Street.
The horn player is in recognition of the world premiere of a piece for 32 horn players by Grammy Award-winning American composer John Luther Adams, which will be a highlight of the music festival.
Last year, the artists created a giant rhinoceros.
Festival spokeswoman Debra Boraston said: “Great progress was being made on the sand sculpture of a horn player, but this morning it unfortunately collapsed.
“It’s a rare occurrence, but it does sometimes happen and the weather may well have played a part.
“Undaunted, the team are busy back at work and we will have a beautiful horn player by Sunday, and well before the festival finale for 32 horn players next Sunday, which is the key reason for this sculpture being themed on a French horn.”
Graham Anderson, owner of the Honeypot Tearoom which the sculpture sits outside, said the artists had worked for two days on the creation.
He said: “It was looking beautiful.
“They build the sculpture in forms and when they raised the second form it cracked and just collapsed.
“They were absolutely devastated.”
On Monday morning before the tide comes, Sand in Your Eye will also make a sand drawing of a giant violin on Elie Beach.
Members of the public will pose as tiny players holding the bow of the instrument.
The classical music festival begins today and continues until July 5.