Rundel Video: Festmarsch | Media center

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op. 452
Festival March
Marche de fête

Johann Strauß (son) (1825-1899) acquired the title of “King of Waltz” only in the musical field, but as a prominent member of Vienna’s high society in the 19th century he also socialised with people of noble descent. For example, he was friends with Ferdinand I. (1861-1948), who was then prince and later king of Bulgaria. In 1893, when he was about to get married to Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma (1870-1899), Strauß composed two pieces of music for the young couple: a waltz for the bride (“Hochzeitsreigen”, op. 453) and a pompous march (“Fest-Marsch”, op. 452) for the groom. The new march was first performed on 4 June 1893 in the Vienna Prater by a mass corps of about 500 musicians from all of Vienna’s military bands. The first publicly played version was therefore played by a wind orchestra; Stefan Schwalgin’s arrangement thus ties in with the origins of the march. This very first performance was so well received that the march had to be repeated immediately while the audience kept cheering. In fact, the “Fest-Marsch”, op. 452 remarkably combines the force and the festivity that goes along with the instrumentation of a wind orchestra with the melodious verve and genuine “Viennese charm” that is so typical for Strauß.


Grade Level GB: 3-4
Grade Level USA: 2+ (Easy-Medium)
Composer: Strauß (Sohn), Johann
Arranger: Schwalgin, Stefan
Genre: Classic, Classical Transcription, Concert March, March
Performance time: 00:04:00
Publisher: Rundel
Size: A4
Info: Full Score + Parts
Rundel Order Number: MVSR3468
Release Date: 2021