Christmas Bells
Dieses Stück habe ich 2014 für einen Wettbewerb in den USA geschrieben. Nachdem es jahrelang in der Schublade lag, wurde es endlich im Dezember 2022 von den Mörth Singers unter meiner Leitung uraufgeführt.
Der Text ist ein Weihnachtsgedicht von Henry Longfellow, das das Glockengeläut an Weihnachten besingt. Es ist ein Appell daran, auch in schlechten Zeiten nicht den Glauben an Gott zu verlieren, denn am Ende vertreibt der Gesang "of peace on earth, good-will to men" alle Sorgen.
"Christmas Bells", von Henry W. Longfellow (1807–1882):
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn the households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Besetzung: SSATTBB
Dauer: 3 min
Mörth Singers, Leitung: Julian Mörth, 2022