Willy Haag (1905 - 1969) was a professional musician and military trumpeter who led various music corps. He began his career in Basel and the surrounding area before leading the Stadtmusik Moutier and later working in the Biel and Neuenburg region. From 1964 to 1968, he led the Stadtmusik Neuenburg. Willy Haag was also a trumpeter in the orchestra of the Grock Circus.
Little is known about the origins of the drum corps march “Le Commandant”. The fanfare introduction, which is reminiscent of French clarion marches, the use of drum corps with fully composed parts and the French title suggest that Willy Haag may have composed this march during his time as bandmaster in western Switzerland. This work is a historical legacy and represents a Swiss drum corps march in the French style.
Philipp Wagner, born in 1965, is a successful conductor and musician. He completed his training at the Basel Conservatory and graduated in 1989 as a wind orchestra conductor. Since 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Wagner has been a professional music instructor in the Swiss Army, where he leads musical training and activities. In 2012, he took over the position of commander of the Center of Competence for Military Music and the Swiss Army Band, where he is responsible for organizing and managing military music activities.
With the present new edition of “Le Commandant” (The Commander), Philipp Wagner has succeeded in creating a modern version in terms of instrumentation for both wind orchestras and brass bands. The drum parts have been revised in Swiss notation.
