Ponchielli worked on his work Il Gottardo in 1881. Probably he wrote this “Inno trionfale op. 159” under the impression of the upcoming opening of the Gotthard railway tunnel in 1882, the first performance taking place in 1882 in the Scala di Milano. Ponchielli orchestrated this work even for the wind orchestra at that time. Carlo Balmelli has adapted this instrumentation in the current edition for modern wind orchestra and set it up again. (Edition Symphonic Works)