Charles Gounod’s March of a Marionette is a popular piece composed in 1872. It is a mock funeral march with a jaunty and light-hearted tune and inappropriate rhythms which create a humorous and carefree character or mood. It was adopted by film director Alfred Hitchcock in the 1950s as a theme for his television programme and as such is now closely associated with him. This version is for Bassoon with Piano accompaniment arranged by Harold Walters.
SKU: CF.CAS159F
ISBN 9781491165447. UPC: 680160924356. Key: D minor.
Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was a French composer who was well-known and well-regarded in his lifetime. His legacy included breaking from the grand opera tradition and influencing the next generation of Frenchcomposers. March of the Marionette was originally a piano solo titled Funeral March of a Marionette. Gounod wrote the piece to make fun of the music critic, Henry Chorley. The marionette dies in a duel, possibly a musical imitation of a public argument about the merits of Gounod’s compositions. The marionette’s friends have a funeral for him, creating a procession through the streets, with a brief stop for refreshments, illustrated in the D major section. This now-familiar theme has been used in frequently in advertisements, movies, and television shows. It was used as the theme music for Alfred Hitchcock Presents television show (1956-66) introducing dramas, mysteries, and thrillers.The prevailing bow strokes in this piece range from spiccato stroke to a light brush stroke for all eighth notes, regardless of articulation markings. Students should experiment with bow distribution to discover the appropriate placement for different dynamics. Students just learning the spiccato bow stroke will be more successful if they start this bow stroke close to their bow hand. Encourage students to discuss the character of the music and how to bring the storyline to life as an ensemble.
About Carl Fischer Concert String Orchestra Series
This series of pieces (Grade 3 and higher) is designed for advancing ensembles. The pieces in this series are characterized by:
SKU: CF.CAS159
ISBN 9781491165041. UPC: 680160923953. Key: D minor.
Charles Gounod (1818–1893) was a French composer who was well-known and well-regarded in his lifetime. His legacy included breaking from the grand opera tradition and influencing the next generation of Frenchcomposers. March of the Marionette was originally a piano solo titled Funeral March of a Marionette. Gounod wrote the piece to make fun of the music critic, Henry Chorley. The marionette dies in a duel, possibly a musical imitation of a public argument about the merits of Gounod’s compositions. The marionette’s friends have a funeral for him, creating a procession through the streets, with a brief stop for refreshments, illustrated in the D major section. This now-familiar theme has been used frequently in advertisements, movies, and television shows. It was used as the theme music for Alfred Hitchcock Presents television show (1956–66) introducing dramas, mysteries, and thrillers.The prevailing bow strokes in this piece range from spiccato stroke to a light brush stroke for all eighth notes, regardless of articulation markings. Students should experiment with bow distribution to discover the appropriate placement for different dynamics. Students just learning the spiccato bow stroke will be more successful if they start this bow stroke close to their bow hand. Encourage students to discuss the character of the music and how to bring the storyline to life as an ensemble.
SKU: CU.EC10360
ISBN 9790215902459.
SKU: FP.FDW03
ISBN 9790570500789.
Gounod's classic piece, arranged for double bass, with piano accompaniment.The music in the beginning tells the listener that two of the members of the Marionette troupe have had a duel and one of them has been killed. A party of pallbearers is organised and the procession sets out for the cemetery in march time.The piece soon takes on a more cheerful spirit, for some of the troupe, wearied with the march, seek consolation at a wayside inn, where they refresh themselves and also descant upon the many virtues of their late companion. At last they get into place again and the procession enters the cemetery to the march rhythm -- the whole closing with the bars intended to reflect upon the briefness and weariness of life, even for marionettes.
SKU: CL.RWS-2318-00
Your audience will be delighted with this sly, tongue-in-cheek programmatic march! Filled with clever melodies and colorful surprises, Funeral March of a Marionette is perhaps best known as the theme song from the Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV show. Evan VanDoren has crafted this new transcription for the modern wind ensemble, taking care to maximize playability while presenting the work in its truest form.
SKU: AP.98-RWS231801
