On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Royal Dutch Federation of Wind Bands Mr. Henk van Lijnschooten was commissioned to compose a festive march. The main condition for the composer to fulfill was to make this march suitable for execution by bands of varying levels.
Almost every one of the appr. 1000 orchestras united in the Federation have the march Royal Jubilee in their possession. The positive response of numerrous bands proves that it is not just some 'composition for an occasion” but a march of lasting value which can be used to advantage on festive and solemn events.
Royal Jubilee is based on Dutch motifs. The first section is dominated by the initial motiv of the Dutc National Anthem Wilhelmus. It is not just by chance that it is done in marching tempo, the National Anthem stems from a seventeenth century marching song. It was later in history that is grew customary to perform the Wilhelmus at a more solemn tempo. The second section (trio) of Royal Jubilee is of a more solemn character and at its end a fragment can be heard of a song (wier Neerlands Bloed) that served as the Dutch National Anthem for some time but later went into oblivion.
The scoring of Royal Jubilee has made it suitable for any type of windband, whereas a drumband could be added ad libitum.
