Beschrijving

The soloistic work DIE BERNER STADTWACHE tells a little story from the Swiss capital. In former times, the guard on duty at the tower in the old city wall was changed twice a day. Beforehand, the drums and fifes could be heard approaching in the distance. After the changing of the guard the “Bern March” was played. Then the group marched off again and the music died away.

Thomas Berghoff tells this little story in musical form, using the euphonium (alternatives are horn or tenor horn) as a solo instrument. After the introduction there is a wonderful interplay between the solo part and the orchestra. Here motifs from the “Bern March” can be heard several times. Although the tempo remains fairly slow, a certain cheerfulness and humour make themselves evident. The piece ends very quietly, “diminuendo poco a poco”, just like the end of the little story.