The "Post Horn Galop," a popular novelty piece that actually uses a short English post horn in its performance, was composed by Herman Koenig, a German-born cornet virtuoso. For many years it was customary for the mail stage-coach to sound a 'post horn' (a type of coiled trumpet) just prior to their galloping arrival at a way-station. Like many kinds of folk music, the theme was adopted into the mainstream and by the mid-18th century, the galop was a fashionable dance that was, for a time, popular as the final dance of the evening (much as the waltz is today).
Koenig's "Post Horn Galop," his most memorable composition, was premiered in 1844 at the winter promenade concerts at Covent Garden by Koenig himself. Koenig had moved to England in the first half of the 19th century and played cornet in the Drury Lane Orchestra, London, establishing himself as a musician of merit and a soloist. However, he was also interested in developing brass instruments and partnered for a few years with the instrument dealer Pask to form the Pask & Koenig company, while he developed some of his ideas for improving horns.
Surrey Brass plays an arrangement of this famous tune by John Iveson, long time trombonist of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble.
