The Commodore's Crown

I composed the concert march ‘The Commodore’s Crown’ at the request of the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, conducted by Major Harmen Cnossen, for the Coronation of His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Orange as King of the Netherlands.
The premiere of ‘The Commodore’s Crown’ by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy took place on April 30, 2013, at the Royal Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam during the inauguration of Willem-Alexander as King of the Netherlands.
At the time the concert march was composed, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander held the rank of Commodore in the Royal Netherlands Navy. I wanted to reflect the Crown Prince’s then-rank, along with the future Crown of the King, in the title of the concert march, hence the title ‘The Commodore’s Crown’.
However, with his ascension to the throne, Willem-Alexander also relinquished his military status and rank of Commodore. Therefore, the title of the march was changed to ‘Defileermars van de Koning’ (The King’s Parade March) for the coronation. The Royal Netherlands Navy Marine Band always performs this march under this title on occasion.

For the official release of this concert march, I chose the original title ‘The Commodore’s Crown’, as this feels more fitting for the time the march was composed.

‘The Commodore’s Crown’ can be played in full concert formation, but also in march formation. In the latter case, omitting the timpani and suspended cymbals from the percussion section is no problem. The double bass part is also optional in that case. Other instruments such as oboe, bassoon, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, and contrabass clarinet are not strictly necessary. The Glockenspiel part can optionally be played on a lyra. The Fifes and Drums parts are also optional, in both concert and march formations.