Fantastica

FANTASTICA was composed for the 25th anniversary of the Landesmusikschule Brixental (federal school for musical education) in Tirol (Austria). Martin Scharnagl works at this school as a percussion teacher, and the school’s headmaster Mr. Josef "Sepp" Gandler commissioned him to compose this piece. The world premiere was played by a wind orchestra of the school’s teachers and students, which was founded especially for this anniversary and was conducted by the composer himself.

The fantasy for wind orchestra is rich in variety and begins with a festive main theme, which is presented in the form of a radiant fanfare. Over a rhythmic bass figure, the composer develops large, majestic themes in his characteristic musical signature. In addition, he creates the special atmosphere of film music. The lively Allegro, which begins in bar 46, is intended to express the joy with which music is played and worked with at the music school. A particularly light and dance-like style of music-making is recommended here. The quiet middle section develops its special charm through the creative combination of alpine music with symphonic elements. The following recapitulation of the Allegro part leads to the piece’s climax in bar 139, when the presented themes are masterfully combined before a fiery coda concludes the composition.