WIENER PHILHARMONIKER FANFARE

Richard Strauss is a German composer, not related incidentally to Johann Strauss and his Austrian relatives from Vienna. He was born in Munich on June 11, 1864 and married the singer Pauline de Ahna in 1894. Strauss was the son of the horn virtuoso of the Königlich Bayerische Hofkapelle Franz Joseph Strauss. His musical acquaintance started on the violin with Benno Walter, for piano with Carl Niest and for music theory with master Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer. Richard emerged early as a musical talent. In 1876 he wrote his "Festmarsch op. 1," which was published along with two other works in 1881. His big breakthrough came with his first opera "Salomé". He then composed a series of operas, mostly with lyricist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. He received frequent vocal technical advice from his wife and this helped him considerably. Partly because of this, he had a clear preference for leading roles for the soprano in his operas. Other well-known operas by Strauss include "Der Rosenkavalier," "Ariadne auf Naxos," "Elektra" and "Die Frau ohne Schatten." His works are generally considered highlights in the repertoire of late Romanticism. He died on September 8, 1949 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (near Munich).
The "Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare" was composed on the occasion of the first Wiener Philharmoniker Benefit Ball in 1924. This ball aimed to raise money for the orchestra musicians' pension fund and has become a tradition, with this fanfare being performed every year as guests enter the ballroom.
The work was originally written for 6 trumpets, 8 horns, 6 trombones, 2 bass tubas and timpani. An occasional work, which has become a keeper because of its quality!
Note for the conductor: This arrangement can also be performed at will by a brass ensemble and percussion. In that case, of course, only the following intrumentation should be used: trumpets - horns - trombones - euphonium - bass - timpani - cymbal à 2.

This composition was created with the help of a contribution from the Music Investment Fund, an initiative of Buma/Stemra in cooperation with Voi©e, the Copyright Interests Federation and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands.