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Gounod: Marche Pontificale (Harmonie)

Gounod: Pontifical March

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On the occasion of the Holy Year 1950, Pope Pius XII decreed that the Marche Pontificale by French composer Charles Gounod (1818-1893) would become the official anthem of Vatican City, succeeding an anthem from 1857 by Vittorino Hallmayr.

The new name for the march became 'Papal Anthem'. The devout Gounod had written the piece in 1869 for an anniversary of Pope Pius IX. That year, it premiered in St. Peter's Square in Rome, performed by seven military orchestras. It was a huge success – and even today, this music remains very popular.

Wil van der Beek was responsible for the excellent arrangement of this well-known work.