Blog Post Twelve
Davide Delle Cese: L’Inglesina (The Little English Girl)
Thanks for stopping by, and welcome to my blog! I hope you had a great week. In this blog post, I will be discussing my inspiration for writing a woodwind quintet arrangement of Italian composer Davide Delle Cese’s classic symphonic march, L’Inglesina (The Little English Girl).” I will also discuss my upcoming publication: Three European Marches, which includes “L’Inglesina.” What is your experience with this band favorite? Did you play it as a young musician or in college? How does it rate with your favorite pieces? This is my favorite European March. Tell me your thoughts about it in the comments below.
Before we continue, here are three music trivia questions to challenge you; I will reveal the answers towards the end of this blog post. These questions all stem from topics covered in this blog post; I hope you enjoy them. First, what is the claim to fame for Italian composer, teacher, and bandmaster Davide Delle Cese’s march “L’Inglesina?” Second, although known for his iconic “Under the Double Eagle March,” what other march brought notoriety to Austrian composer and bandmaster Josef Franz Wagner? And third, which instrument did the Czech-born composer Julius Fučik play, which was also featured in one of his instrumental solos? Tell me your answers in the comments below, or feel free to share any other interesting musical facts you might know about these three European composers. Now, let’s continue with the topic at hand.
L’Inglesina
This Italian symphonic march was written in 1871 and is considered one of the most popular concert marches in the world. This is, in fact, the first march I ever heard, before hearing any type of American or patriotic march. When I was attending Westwood Junior High School in Richardson, Texas, a Dallas suburb, my band director programmed “L’Inglesina” for our spring concert. I was unfamiliar with this work, but I immediately took to it. With its beautiful melodies, woodwind obbligatos, and charming countermelodies, it struck a chord with me. The entire band enjoyed playing this piece, and we played it quite well. We had one of the best junior high bands in the state, and that is saying something, since Texas has arguably some of the best bands in the country.
As a clarinetist, I particularly found this march exciting because of all the clarinet section features in this march. Starting with the third strain and its high trills, which repeat later in the piece, to the post-Trio strain with more trills, which also takes a repeat, to the obbligato strain after the Trio, each features the clarinet section. I do not know of many other concert band pieces that feature the clarinet section so heavily. Perhaps as a consolation prize for the brass players, Delle Cese also featured the trumpet section in the Trio, which also has a repeat. With the low winds/low brass melody in the second strain, and the euphonium/horn counter melodies, this march has something for everyone. Despite this march’s unique form, with multiple strains and two break strains, or “dogfights” (normally one), it is still my favorite European march. It was an easy choice for my next woodwind quintet arranging project.
THREE EUROPEAN MARCHES
Coming later in January, I will publish a new set of Three European Marches arranged for woodwind quintet. The set starts with the aforementioned “L’Inglesina”, followed by Julius Fučik’s “Florentiner March,” and concluding with Josef Franz Wagner’s “Under the Double Eagle.” These three marches, originating from Italy, Bohemia, and Austria, respectively, represent some of the best symphonic marches Europe ever produced. They each sound vastly different from American marches in form and style. I chose them because each has its own unique sound and characteristics, and I have fond memories of performing them throughout my Air Force career. Our audiences always enjoyed these three marches immensely. This upcoming publication offers three unique marches and will bring a taste of Europe to your special musical events.
music trivia questions
First question: What is the claim to fame for Italian composer, teacher, and bandmaster Davide Delle Cese’s march “L’Inglesina?”
The Italian symphonic march “L’Inglesina” is considered one of the most popular marches in the world. This charming Italian march, composed in 1871, resembles an operatic overture, featuring lilting melodies, several euphonium countermelodies, and woodwind obligatos.
Berry, K. (2014, May 11). Notes-2014-05-11. San Jose Wind Symphony. https://www.sjws.org/notes-2014-05-11
Program Note from Program Notes for Band. (2025, November 12). Inglesina (1897). Wind Repertory Project. https://www.windrep.org/Inglesina_(1897)
Second question: Although known for his iconic “Under the Double Eagle March,” what other march brought notoriety to Austrian composer and bandmaster Josef Franz Wagner?
The march “Gigerl, Opus 150”. This march is based on a southern German or Austrian term, which, according to the Langenscheidt German-English Dictionary, refers to a man who is considered a dandy, a swell, or a peacock; in other words, a man who is more interested in his appearance and showing off. The march has an interesting form, with an A & B section, a Trio, no “dogfight”, and a quiet ending featuring a piccolo duet. I have never heard that type of form before; that was an interesting compositional choice. Maybe this is a traditional Austrian march form? Does anybody have any ideas about that?
Third question: Which instrument did the Czech-born composer Julius Fučik play, which was also featured in one of his instrumental solos?
Julius Fučik played the bassoon, and that instrument is featured in his “Der alte Brummbär, op.210,” a comic polka for bassoon and orchestra (also transcribed for band). Fučik had an interesting background. He was a composer, orchestral conductor, bandmaster, and bassoonist. He studied composition at the Prague Conservatory with the much-beloved Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. He also performed in the 49th Austro-Hungarian Regiment under Josef Franz Wagner, composer of “Under the Double Eagle.”
Lamb, A. (2001). Fučik, Julius. Grove Music Online. Retrieved 15 Jan. 2026, from https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000010344.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my blog. I hope you enjoyed my musings on music. I’ll be back in two weeks with more anecdotes, memories, and passions for music. In the meantime, you can listen to my new arrangement of “L’Inglesina” by clicking on the MP3 player below. Then click here to purchase it from my Shop. If you haven’t yet spoken up, tell me about your experiences with any of these three European composers in the comments below. I’d love to hear about it. Thanks for stopping by. See you in my next blog!
16 January 2026
Delle Cese: L’Inglesina (The Little English Girl) - Arranged for woodwind quintet - cover art
