Adolphe-Valentin Sellenik was the 2nd director of the french Garde Républicaine’s music band (first named Garde Impériale). As such, his essential production was oriented towards the enrichment of music bands litterature, and he wrote few "civilian" music, aside with transcriptions for piano of his own band music.

His Andante Religioso for saxophone quartet is one of the rare chamber music works published by this composer, along with a few pieces for cornet (his favourite instrument) and piano. Anyhow, pointed rythms and sudden dynamic changes could suggest a form of military de rigor (which could easily fit a «cérémonie du souvenir», for example).

This short piece, published in 1861 in sepate parts only, was written originally "for 4 saxophones : soprano, alto, tenor and bass". Though, the "bass" saxophone part is  clearly written in Eb (in G major, just like the alto part), although the original edition doesn’t mention it specifically . This means that it was played on an instrument corresponding to the actual baritone saxophone. I noticed that in the first Adolphe Sax catalogues, the saxophone nomenclatures were still unclear : le composer probably made a mistake as for the name of this fourth instrument.

The work is logically dédicated to Adolphe Sax, who  published it under the number A.S.32, and it was printed by Thierry, Cité Bergère.

Adolphe-Valentin Sellenik (1826-1893)

French composer and conductor, born on september the 3d, 1826 in Libourne, he died on september 25th, 1893 in Les Andelys, son of an austrian-born fanfare conductor (his name is sometimes spelled : Sellenick).
After his studies in Strasbourg’s Ecole Municipale de Musique, he was apointed first violin in Strasbourg’s Opera, where he also plays cornet. In 1847, he created the «Sellenick fanfare», and he became conductor of the Strasbourg’s Garde nationale band.

In 1853, he directed the band of the Second Régiment de Tirailleurs in Paris, and in 1873, he succeeded Paulus as director of the Musique de la Garde Républicaine  band from 1873 to 1884. In 1887, he co-wrote with his successor Gustave Wettge the  official version of La Marseillaise, which had become the french national hymn in 1879.

Two streets bear his name in Strasbourg and Libourne, and a bust is dedicated to him in Les Andelys (a bronze statue by Paul Ducuing inaugurated by a concert of the Garde Républicaine in 1892). He was a knight of the Legion of honnor .

Prevented by the German annexion from returning home in Alsace after the 1870 war, he retired in Normandy, in Les Andelys, where he finished his life. The fanfare he had founded in Strasbourg was dissolved by the german authorities in 1887.

Compositions : Three opéras-comiques : Crespin, rival de son maître, Les Diamants de la Diva et Le Florentin ; one Symphonie dramatique : Les Fiancés ; a few pieces for cornet and piano, his saxophone quartet and more than 60 pieces for military orchestra (pas redoublés, marches, polkas, walzes, boleros and military allegros ....) especially his famous Marche Indienne, which was transcribed for numerous instruments.