March of the Marionette

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:

• Expanded use of rhythms, ranges and keys but technical demands are still carefully considered
• More comprehensive bowing techniques
• Viola T.C. included
• Careful selection of keys and degree of difficulty for advancing musicians