The Harmonie Municipale de Dudelange (HMD) is an amateur symphonic wind orchestra based in Dudelange, Luxembourg. Ranked among the finest wind bands in Luxembourg, the band's repertoire includes many different styles, such as original wind band music, classical transcriptions and soloist pieces, big band and jazz. This variety of styles as well as the level of difficulty presents a continuous challenge, which is gladly accepted by the 70 musicians of the orchestra. In our archive section you'll find the complete history of the band as well as excerpts from various performances which allow you to see for yourself.
First of all, there are no strings, except for a string bass, if needed. The violins are replaced by clarinets, the celli by saxophones. The entire ensemble consists of mostly woodwind and brass instruments. This includes the less common instruments such as oboe, bassoon and contra bassoon, bass and even the contrabass clarinet, which are not used in a marching band.

A little bit of History

In 1886, some musically motivated citizens founded the first wind band in the small village of Dudelange. Although this band was dissolved 9 years later mainly due to financial reasons, it is still considered to be the base for what is known today as the Harmonie Municipale de Dudelange. On the 11th July 1896, this band was resurrected under the name of Musik-Gesellschaft Düdelingen (music company of Dudelange). With the rise of the steel industry, a few years later, on the 4th August 1907, Dudelange had more than 1000 inhabitants and therefore was declared city of Dudelange; at the same time, the band was renamed to Harmonie Municipale de Dudelange (HMD, Wind Band of the city of Dudelange).
More historical facts down below.

Presidents

  • Fred Marx
    1897-1901
  • Albert Urbany
    1901-1902
  • Pierre Majerus
    1902-1907
  • Alphonse Koener
    1907-1912
  • François Junius
    1912-1919
  • Joseph Jacoby
    1919-1922
  • Fred Marx
    1922-1940
  • François Berwick
    1940-1946
  • Roger Wilwert
    1946-1950
  • Ernest Neiens
    1950-1966
  • Auguste Gretsch
    1966-1972
  • Fernand Wagner
    1972-1977
  • Jean Zeimetz
    1977-1983
  • Joseph Elvinger
    1983-1992
  • Armand Reuter
    1992-1997
  • Martine Deprez
    1997-2002
  • Conny Theobald
    2002-2014
  • Eric Ewald
    2014-

Conductors

  • Fr. Pommerelle
    1896-1898
  • Auguste Klein
    1898-1901
  • A. Füssels
    6 weeks
  • Fernand Mertens
    1901-1907
  • J. Renson
    6 weeks
  • Albert Schacht
    1907-1913
  • A. Bertiaux
    1913-1919
  • Auguste Tosberg
    1919-1924
  • Nic Bohnenberger
    1924-1934
  • Charles Lanser
    1934-1944
  • René Eiffes
    1944-1948
  • Pierre Schonckert
    1948-1961
  • Eugène Weber
    1961-1972
  • François Tommasini
    1972-1981
  • Marc Müller
    1981-1983
  • Francis Schummer
    1983-1989
  • Christian Gregorius
    1989-1996
  • Marc Rehlinger
    1996-1998
  • Marc Meyers
    1998-2006
  • Marco Battistella
    2006-2007
  • Marc Meyers
    2007-2008
  • Sascha Leufgen
    2008 -

Highlights

  • 1896 - The Birth of the 'Musikgesellschaft Düdelingen'
  • 1907 - Dudelange reaches 1.000 inhabitants and is called 'City'
  • 1928 - UDGA classifies us in the top division. Winning the national competition, the mayor grants us our first full uniform.
  • 1932 - A concert in Paris in front of over 5.000 people at the Champs de Mars
  • 1940 - World War II and the Nazi occupation brings the band to the edge of dissolution. To avoid the obligation to support nazi propaganda, the band switches to the form of a symphonic orchestra, not being able to play marching-music.
  • 1946 - The band celebrates it's 50th anniversary and is recovering from WW II. Municipality decides the foundation of a music-school.

  • 1953 - The first female musicians are accepted in the band.
  • 1955 - Amongst 50 bands from all over Europe, we make 1st price at the band contest in 'Les Sables d'Olonnes'. Starting with 25 musicians in 1944, we count 92 active musicians in 1956.
  • 1969 - The first youth band is called to life.
  • 1976 - Band contest 'La Lyre d'Or' in Vichy
  • 1981 - Our fist (and only) studio-recording at Linster-Studios in Frisange.
  • 1996 - Our 100th Anniversary with Philip Sparke, Quatuor the Trombones de Paris, Piet Jeegers, National Military Band, Deutsche Bläser Philharmonie wuth Stephen Mead ,... 
  • 2015 - USA Tour with 3 concerts in the Chicago area
  • 2017 - UDGA European Wind Orchestra contest at Philharmonie where we finish best national 'Orchestre d'Harmonie' 
  • 2018 - South Corea tour & Jeju International Wind Festival

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