François Dunkler’s unrecorded Feest-Marsch for the 1856 Dutch Choral Festival

A rare piece of Dutch musical heritage, unrecorded in institutional holdings.

François Dunkler Jr. wrote this piano composition for the Tweede Nederlandsche Nationaal Zangersfeest (2nd Dutch National Choral Festival), held in 1856 in Park Tivoli, Utrecht. The work is dedicated to the “liedertafels”, 19th-century male choral societies that flourished across the Netherlands and much of Europe.

The title-page, lithographed by Utrecht-based artist P.W. van de Weijer, adds a decorative visual touch to this musical work.

François Dunkler Jr. (Namur 1816 – The Hague 1878) was a composer, clarinetist, and conductor of the Stafmuziekkorps van het Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers, one of the leading military bands in the Netherlands. In 1876, his achievements were officially recognized by King William III, who granted the title Koninklijke Militaire Kapel (“Royal Military Band”).

This unrecorded Feest-Marsch is a reflection of a thriving 19th-century choral tradition and the growing national pride of a young Dutch state. It is perfect for collections focused on Dutch music, 19th-century European festivals, lithographic title-pages, or national culture.