Three Revolutionary Marches
Bedřich Smetana (arr. Vaclav Nelhybel)
General Info
Year: 1848 / 1969
Duration: c. 8:05
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano
Publisher: Alfred Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.
Movements
1. March of the Revolutionary Guard - 2:25
2. March of the Students' Legion
3. March of Freedom
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Triangle
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Originally written by Czech composer Bedřich Smetana in 1848 as piano pieces. The three marches are March of the Revolutionary Guard; March of the Students' Legion and March of Freedom. The musically accurately portrays the political upheaval of his time in Prague.
- Program Note from publisher
Nationalism was an important force in 19th century music. In Czechoslovakia, it was Bedřich Smetana who took up the crusade. Three Revolutionary Marches is based on Czech melodies, which, it is said, Smetana heard while fighting ranged in Prague.
- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music
The March of the Revolutionary Guard was written in 1848, an
inflammatory political time in European history. It is known that
Smetana, then a young man of twenty-four, composed this march
while actual street fighting raged in his city of Prague. There are
also two other marches that comprise a set.
Although written originally as pieces for piano solo, the third march (also known as A Song of Freedom) had a vocal text. The second piece, March of the Student Legion, is based on two easily recognizable and traditional sources – the student song Gaudeamus Igitor (Let us therefore rejoice) and a European folk song resembling the familiar tune know as A Hunting We Will Go.
- Program Note from University of Oregon Wind Ensemble concert program, 31 January 2016
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Belwin Concert Band
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Purdue University Fort Wayne (Ind.) Symphonic Band (Daniel Tembras, conductor) - 2 March 2023
- Syracuse University (Syracuse, N.Y.) (Bradley P. Ethington, conductor) – 2 October 2018
- Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee) Concert Band (James Baxter, conductor) – 11 May 2018
- Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee) Concert Band (Terry S. Treuden, conductor) – 6 October 2017
- Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan) Adult Band Camp (Thomas Riccobono, conductor) - 13 August 2017
- University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Wind Symphony (Rodney Dorsey, guest conductor) - 18 November 2016
- University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Ensemble (Rodney Dorsey, conductor) – 31 January 2016
- Parkland College (Champaign, Ill.) Concert Band (Larry Stoner, conductor) - 19 October 2014
- Woodside (Calif.) Village Band – 29 April 2013
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Vltava (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ehara) (1874/2014)
All Wind Works
- Fanfares (arr. Nelhybel) (1872/1976)
- High Castle, The
- The Moldau (arr. Cacavas, rev. Rogers) (1874/1999)
- Overture to "Libusse"
- Overture to "The Bartered Bride" (arr. Bělohoubek) (1866)
- Overture to "The Bartered Bride" (tr. Patterson) (1866)
- Polka (arr. Parks) (1866/2008)
- Three Revolutionary Marches (arr. Nelhybel) (1848/1969)
- Vltava (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ehara) (1874/2014)
- Wallenstein's Camp
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Bedrich Smetana." Accessed 24 January 2016.
- Smetana, B.; Nelhybel, V. [1969]. Three Revolutionary Marches [score]. Belwin Mills: Rockville Centre, N.Y.