Rudolf Herzer: Hoch Heidecksburg (Harmonie)

Informatie

The name and the renown of the composer Rudolf Herzer are almost exclusively linked to his great concert march Hoch Heidecksburg (Hail Heidecksburg). Rudolf Herzer was born on Nov. 11, 1878 at Rottleben, located at the southern edge of the Harz Mountains. The data shown by several sources regarding his career as a military musician including the position of a conductor of the band of 3rd Bn, 7th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 96 in Rudolstadt are not to be verified in official documents. In any case the magnificent castle of the princely city of Rudolstadt, the Heidecksburg, inspired Herzer to compose this march. At that time it was not unusual at all to include well-known bugle calls. Out of ”Mort”, the retreat for rifle units, emerges a great tuneful concert march which eventually became one of the few marches of truly universal bearing. Reports on its first performance as well as data on Herzer’s activities in Berlin must be treated as doubtful due to new evidence available. When World War I broke out, Herzer re-enlisted in the army as a volunteer. Soon after his regiment was engaged in combat in East Prussia, where Herzer was seriously wounded.He died in Allenstein on Oct. 20, 1914.