Composition database

This is the Composition Database of BMC, which includes information about works by composers that are either Hungarian or Hungarian by origin or live in Hungary.

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Title of the work

Marche funebre

Composer
Bartók Béla
Original / Hungarian title
Marche funebre
Foreign language / English title
Marche funebre
Subtitle
For piano
Year of composition
1905
Type
Instrumental solo
Number of players
1
Instrumentation
pf.
Movements, parts
One movement
Publisher / Source
Editio Musica Budapest © 1950, Z. 7995
Available here!
Recordings
Hungaroton HCD-32524 Bartók New Series Vol. 24 - István G. Németh (pf.)
Remarks, other info
"The Marche funebre is a piano transcription of the concluding part of the symphonic poem Kossuth composed in summer 1903. The snappy rhythmic motif of the dramatic introduction bore the inscription "Danger threatens the fatherland" in the score. After it, we hear the tragic funeral-verbunk form of the Kossuth theme, over a heroic ostinato accompaniment reminiscent of late Liszt. Contrasting with this, there follows an exciting sequential treatment of the "valiant heroes" theme, and this peters out to the Hungarian-style runs that had previously appeared in the "Danger threatens the fatherland" motivic group. Finally, during the resigned conclusion of the piece (X. "A hopeless silence reigns"), the Kossuth theme disintegrates into its various motifs, as if "dying"."