Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110 Cover Image

Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score

$30.00 USD
$30.00 USD
Skip to product information
Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110 Cover Image
Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score

Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score

By Richard Wagner

Item: 36-A535601
$30.00
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score & Parts

$150.00
View
Description
Richard Wagner (1813–1883) composed the GROSSER FESTMARSCH (also known as the AMERICAN CENTENNIAL MARCH), WWV 110, in 1876 to commemorate the centennial of the United States Declaration of Independence. Commissioned by the city of Philadelphia for its grand Centennial Exposition, the work was Wagner's only composition written for an American occasion. Completed in April 1876 while the composer was deeply engaged in preparations for the first Bayreuth Festival, the march was premiered on May 10, 1876, in Philadelphia, conducted by Theodore Thomas. Scored for a large orchestra and marked by its stately grandeur and ceremonial tone, the piece reflects Wagner's command of orchestral color and majesty. While rarely performed today and often considered a curiosity within Wagner's oeuvre, the GROSSER FESTMARSCH remains a fascinating example of his style adapted for a public celebration and stands as a unique musical link between the German Romantic tradition and America's centennial festivities. Instrumentation: 3+1(Picc).3.3.3+1(CBsn): 4.3+1(BsTpt).3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition.

Grosser Festmarsch (American Centennial March), WWV 110: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 8-89-810415-4
ISBN13: 979-889-810-4153
UPC: 605258748119
SKU: 36-A535601
Instrumentation: 3+1(Picc).3.3.3+1(CBsn): 4.3+1(BsTpt).3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner (1813–1883) revolutionized opera and orchestral music through his harmonic innovations, leitmotif technique, and command of the orchestra. His influence on Romantic music runs deep; yet his output extends beyond the music dramas for which he is famous. Wagner composed this march late in life, during a period of intense focus on the Bayreuth Festival and his final opera, Parsifal.

The Grosser Festmarsch stands apart in Wagner's catalog as his sole work commissioned for an American celebration. Composed in 1876 to honor the United States centennial, it demonstrates how even a composer of Wagner's stature could turn toward occasional music, crafting a work that blends his orchestral mastery with the ceremonial requirements of public commemoration.

Why we love this

Conductors drawn to Wagner's orchestral sophistication will find this march a manageable entry point into his orchestral writing without requiring singers or the scale of a full music drama. The work's ceremonial grandeur and substantial orchestration make it a striking concert opener, and its rarity on programs means it can anchor a concert with genuine historical and musical novelty.

What to expect

Stately and processional, with a ceremonial grandeur that unfolds through rich orchestral color and dignified melodic gestures. The work carries the weight of Wagnerian harmony while maintaining a public, celebratory character suited to its commissioned purpose.

Who it's for

Conductors preparing a full orchestra or large concert band who seek ambitious orchestral literature beyond the standard repertoire. This score suits serious music programs with the instrumentation resources and maturity to handle Wagnerian textures and pacing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the melodic lines with vocal phrasing even in the brass and woodwind sections; Wagner's orchestration demands singing, not merely articulation.
  • Balance the full string section (9.8.7.6.5) carefully so that the inner voices support rather than obscure the primary thematic material.
  • Allow the timpani and percussion to establish the ceremonial march character without overwhelming the ensemble; clarity of definition serves the work's dignity.
  • Coordinate the four to five percussionists to achieve unified articulation on the grander gesture moments, where multiple players double the main rhythmic ideas.

How to use it

Program this as a concert opener to establish occasion and formality, or place it alongside other large-scale orchestral works that reward sustained ensemble focus and detailed orchestral balance. Its unique historical connection to America's centennial gives it resonance in programs exploring music and national identity or celebrating significant anniversaries.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and executing sustained Wagnerian orchestration with attention to inner voices
  • Coordinating large percussion sections in ceremonial and processional contexts
  • Balancing multiple woodwind and brass parts across a full orchestral texture
  • Understanding Wagner's harmonic language and orchestral color through score study

You May Also Like