Ponchielli composed the March Op. 119 between 1861 and 1864, during his tenure as the “Chief Music Master of the National Guard Band of Piacenza.” Two non-autograph manuscripts of the score have survived. The first, featuring elegant calligraphy and a richly decorated title page, is held at the Royal Library of Turin. The title page bears the title “Viva il Re” (Long Live the King) and a dedication to “H.M. Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy” (dating from March 17, 1861). This reference aligns with the celebratory atmosphere following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, reflecting the support of the city and its local institutions for the newly unified political landscape. The second manuscript is preserved at the State Library of Cremona. Likely transcribed in 1866 by Giovanni Haagen—copyist and second trumpet of the Cremona Band—it is labeled as “March No. 5.”
Op. 119, written in cut time with a festive character, follows the traditional ternary form: March – Trio – Da Capo. The first part of the piece, in A-flat major, immediately evokes the vibrant atmosphere of a city celebration. It consists of two repeated sections based on distinct musical ideas, yet unified by the frequent recurrence of a specific rhythmic cell: two slurred eighth notes followed by a quarter note. Two bars of accompaniment, marked pianissimo (pp), introduce the Trio in D-flat major. This section is also organized into two distinct repeated parts: a more rhythmic opening that contrasts with a second, more lyrical section. The composition concludes with a reprise of the opening march.
Centro Studi Amilcare Ponchielli
Giuseppe Riccucci
March no. 5 - Historical Version
March no. 5 - Audio versione Storica
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