- Dvořák composed Slavnostní pochod (“Festival March”) in 1879 to celebrate the Silver wedding anniversary1 (25 yrs) of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. It was first performed in Prague in 1879.2
- The life of Empress Elisabeth (“Sisi”) is a fascinating story which could be explored in context of this piece. Married at 16, shy, intelligent and progressive, Sisi struggled to fill the role of empress, intimidated by being in the public eye. Sisi battled depression and an eating disorder, but she also instrumental in the successful efforts of the Hungarian nation to achieve a level of independence within the empire of “Austria-Hungary,” with its own constitution. She was assassinated in 1898. Her struggle to live in the limelight is summed up in something she wrote during her courtship: “I love the emperor. If only he were not the emperor.” See this NatGeo article for a biography of Sisi.
- If you’re wondering why this March and the Waltzes, Op. 54 have the same opus number: Dvořák opus numbering is convoluted for various reasons. For one thing, Dvořák restarted his opus numbering around 1873. Also, his numbering for some pieces was altered by his publisher. See his Grove’s article if you want to compare the different numbering systems.
Sources
- Peter Zapletal, liner notes to Dvořák: Small Orchestral Pieces, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek, Supraphon 3166-2 011, CD, 1999.
- Klaus Döge, “Dvořák, Antonín,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed September 5, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000051222.
Cut IDs
41701, 43296