Richard Strauss

Festmarsch

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) achieved his fame primarily through his 16 operas, his 9 symphonic poems, but also through his almost 100 songs. What makes Richard Strauss particularly likeable is the fact that throughout his life he was never above composing 'occasional' works. A particularly impressive composition in this genre is his 'Festmarsch', which he wrote at the age of twenty-four and dedicated to the Munich orchestra association 'Wilde Gungl'. At that time, his father Franz Strauss was the conductor of this orchestra. Thanks to the cooperation of this orchestra, the Italian arranger Gottfried Veit now had this score at his disposal and used it for a transcription of the 'Festmarsch' for Symphonic Band.