March of the Marionette

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Contrabass — 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 thexa0spiccato 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. This familiar sneaky theme was originally composed for solo piano by French composer Charles Gounod in 1872, as a bit of joke about a particular music critic. The mysterious and foreboding motif has since been used in film and TV, most notably as the theme for the show "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." This string orchestra arrangement skillfully weaves the ominous melody into all sections, retaining the original D minor key with the traditional change to the parallel D major in the middle. Players will experience various accidentals in 6/8 meter, with minimal shifting in first violin and cello. With the ghostly whimsy of a danse macabre, this scary classic is perfect for your fall or Halloween concert!

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