Polkas
Polka nel ballo Il viaggio della luna, Op. 176, PP.140.15
While the "hand" of Johannes Haagen has been long recognized in this dance and the festive marches No. 5 and No. 6; however, the the circumstances of how these came to be was a mystery for many years. Finally, the little museum in Paderno Ponchielli obtained Ponchielli's daily register from 1866. In it, on March(?) he notes a thirty lira payment to Haagen for three scores.
The date is significant as Johannes had been refused the post of solo flicorno basso and had lost his position as vicemaestro to Achille Bissocoli. These three scores are important as the most significant change was the part written especially for his youngest son, Roberto, who had been admitted into the band as an "allievo assoldato" or "enrolled student," on Pelittone (a BB-flat tuba) as one of seven to eleven advanced players who augmented the band's size for a small stipend.
Recently, the original score has turned up in a Harvard Library along with several other works from the band in Piacenza in Ponchielli's distinctive manuscript. This version will be appended later.
Date on score: None given
Performances: Sunday, April 14, 1867, Piazza Cavour; Monday, April 22, 1867, Piazza Cavour; Thursday, May 11, 1871, Sull'are della chiesa demolita di. S. Domenico; Sunday, June 22, 1873, Piazza Cavour