Hermann Dostal

Hermann Dostal was born on 6 April 1874 in Strelitz near Littau in Moravia (then Austria-Hungary, today Střelice near Uničov in the Czech Republic). He came from a musical family: his grandfather had been a military bandmaster and his father was a regimental musician. His nephew was the later operetta composer Nico Dostal (1895–1981).
Dostal studied violin and harp at the Prague Conservatory before beginning his career as a military musician with the Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment No. 93 in Olmütz (today Olomouc). He subsequently transferred to the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Infantry Regiment No. 4 in Vienna, where he continued his harp studies under Antonio Zamara at the Conservatory of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde. He later joined the military band of Infantry Regiment No. 26 under Franz Lehár, whom he succeeded as bandmaster on 1 April 1902.
Alongside his military duties, Dostal began composing music for the theatre. His first stage work, the one-act musical burlesque "Eine göttliche Nacht", was premiered at the Viennese cabaret "Die Hölle" on 1 March 1910. In 1911 he became bandmaster of Infantry Regiment No. 67. In the same year his three-act operetta "Das geborgte Schloß" was premiered at the Stadttheater in Leipzig.
On 5 October 1912 his one-act operetta "Der fliegende Rittmeister", with a libretto by Leo Stein and Béla Jenbach, was premiered at the Apollo Theatre in Vienna. The work became particularly successful through its "Fliegermarsch", which was published separately and soon became one of the most popular Austrian military marches. In 1916 Dostal composed the musical comedy "Urschula", which was premiered at the Apollo Theatre on 1 September.
In January 1918 Dostal became bandmaster of Infantry Regiment No. 99. On 30 October 1918 he conducted the regimental band during the final ceremonial changing of the guard at the Hofburg in Vienna before the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
After the First World War Dostal continued his career as a civilian conductor. He directed various entertainment orchestras in Vienna, including the Ziehrer Orchestra, and performed with his own ensemble in the city's parks and concert venues. During the 1920s he also conducted concerts broadcast by Austrian Radio, regularly performing his own compositions.
On 31 May 1919 his three-act operetta "Nimm mich mit!" was premiered at the Theater an der Wien, where it achieved considerable success and received more than 150 performances. Besides his operettas, Dostal composed numerous marches, waltzes, songs and other pieces for military and civilian ensembles. His Fliegermarsch remained his best-known composition and continues to be performed by wind orchestras.
Hermann Dostal died on 20 December 1930 in Vienna (Austria).

In my possession are two autograph orchestral scores by Hermann Dostal, dating from the early years of his musical career.

The first manuscript is titled "Caprice espagnole" and bears the completion date "Wien, 30 November 1900". The second manuscript, titled "Serenade andalousienne", is dated "Wien, 15.7.1901".
Both manuscripts date from Dostal's time as a military musician in the Austro-Hungarian army. In 1902 he succeeded Franz Lehár as bandmaster of Infantry Regiment No. 26 in Vienna. The two scores were therefore completed shortly before he took up this position.

I have not been able to locate any contemporary published editions or documented performances of either work. Neither composition appears in the readily available biographical accounts or worklists of Hermann Dostal.