click for larger image

Sample sheet music

Title	Königgrätzer-Marsch, Der (1866)
Category	Concert/wind/brass band
Subcategory	Street march
Instrumentation	Ha (concert/wind band)
Instrumentation/info	MBF (card size)
Format	DirStm (Condensed Score and parts)
Publisher's article no.	KL 551
Double number/set	Steinmetzmarsch
Price	36.00 EUR (incl. 10 % Austrian VAT)
Composer	Piefke, Gottfried
Arranger	Kliment, Hans
Difficulty level	2
Duration	2:35
Additional info/contents	The 'Königgrätzer Marsch' sounded for the first time on the evening of the 3rd July 1866 on the battlefield of Königgrätz. The musical attraction of the march is based on the contrast between the fresh 6/8 beat, which was still rarely used at that time, and the iron rhythm of the 'Hohenfriedberger Marsch', which is used in the trio.
Sample sheet music	click here
Sample score	click here
Video sample	Do you know of a video that demonstrates this item well? Please send us a link or send us the video via e-mail (office@kliment.at) or snail mail. Thank you.
Available	yes

Programme notes: The Königgrätz March: History, Musical Analysis, and the Arrangement by Hans Kliment Gottfried Piefke's Königgrätz March represents an outstanding example of military musical composition, whose historical and musical significance continues to resonate today. The creation of this work is inextricably linked to the Battle of Königgrätz on July 3, 1866, a decisive event in the Austro-Prussian War. Piefke, as bandmaster of the 1st Foot Guards Regiment, composed the march as an immediate musical response to the Prussian victory, with its first performance directly on the battlefield underscoring the work's profound symbolic charge. This direct connection to a defining historical moment gave the march a special status from the outset. The musical appeal of the composition rests largely on an innovative contrast that was considered progressive at the time. Piefke utilized the fresh and dynamic 6/8 time signature, which stood out from the traditional, often stiff march rhythms and lent the work a lively, forward-driving energy. This choice of time signature was unusual for military marches and contributed significantly to the march's popularity and recognizability. Another key element is the trio, in which Piefke quotes the "Hohenfriedberg March." This insertion creates a striking contrast to the main theme in 6/8 time. The "Hohenfriedberg March" embodies a rigid, taut rhythm and is symbolic of Prussian military tradition. The skillful juxtaposition of these two musical worlds—the innovative freshness of the 6/8 time signature and the established rigor of the "Hohenfriedberg March"—generates a musical tension that makes the Königgrätzer March particularly memorable and explains its enduring impact. Another central element is the trio, in which Piefke quotes the "Hohenfriedberg March." Hans Kliment's arrangement for wind orchestra plays a crucial role in the work's reception today. Kliment skillfully preserved Piefke's original musical intention while simultaneously making optimal use of the sonic possibilities of a modern wind orchestra. His arrangement emphasizes the march's characteristic contrasts, particularly the alternation between the lively 6/8 time signature and the stately trio. Kliment's arrangement makes the march's historical and musical significance accessible to wind bands, allowing the work to unfold its full impact even in contemporary performances. The Königgrätzer March is not only a musical monument to a historical event but also a work of remarkable musical composition. The combination of an innovative sense of rhythm and a conscious reference to musical tradition, enhanced by Hans Kliment's meticulous arrangement, secures the march its firm place in the wind band repertoire and makes it a valuable subject of study for conductors and musicians alike. Text: musicainfo.net (KI) Quellen/Sources: BR Klassik: Königgrätz, 03. Juli 1866: Gottfried Piefke komponiert den "Königgrätzer Marsch" - 2020 IMSLP: Königgrätzer Marsch (Piefke, Johann Gottfried) Stabführer.de: Königgrätzer Marsch Internet Archive Tags: Repertory of the marches

Report error in text or data

add to shopping basket

In order to see the demo scores you need Adobe Reader, which you can download free. Just click on the following link.