Johann Strauss (Sohn)

Festmarsch op. 452

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.