Martin Scharnagl

Sweet Bells Fantasy

Austrian composer Martin Scharnagl presents 'Sweet Bells Fantasy', a creative fantasy about the well-known German Christmas song 'Suesser die Glocken nie klingen' (The Bells Never Sound Sweeter). The work begins with a grand opening, which dresses the thematic material in a harmoniously colorful robe. The first stanza is presented by the woodwinds in chamber music style before the second stanza appears in a sonorous tutti. Over a broad pedal point we reach musical climax in the form of a fermata in bar 60. After a short break the composer now picks up on the musical ideas of the beginning again and uses them for the transition into a grand finale. Based on a constant percussion rhythm the composition ends in the form of a resplendent hymn. As in the beginning, Martin Scharnagl also uses tubular bells to complete his composition 'Sweet Bells Fantasy' , which gives the work a dignified and festive character and symbolizes the joy of Christmas.