Drei Lustige Märsche

Ernest Krenek

This work's title translates from the German as "Three Funny [or Merry] Marches." It bears the designation Opus 44.

General Info

Year: 1926 / 1957
Duration: c: 6:45
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Universal Edition
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $49.00 | Score Only (print) – Out of print

Movements

1. March I - 1:55
2. March II – 2:00
3. March III – 2:50

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II
Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Originally, Krenek had entitled this piece 3 Märches für Blasmusik. His publisher, Universal Editions, was leery of this title, which directly referred to its military band instrumentation. They believed that this title might have stifled sales and distribution of the work, seeing as how original works for military band were uncommon at the time. Krenek's publisher suggested three alternative titles for the work, each indicative of the character of the piece:

Three Merry Marches
Three Grotsque Marches
Parodistic Marches for Brass Orchestra

Krenek ultimately agreed to change the name of the work in favor of a more descriptive title.

These three short marches are playful in nature, jovial in spirit, and boisterous in character. The bright, almost sarcastic attitude of each march can be heard in the lilting melodies of the woodwinds, grace note embellishments, syncopations and jeering dissonances. It is almost as if Krenek used the instrumentation of the military band to satirize the military march tradition. While that may not have been his intent in composing the work, one can certainly hear the "parodied" style Krenek has adopted in these three brief marches for military band.

- Program Note from University of Miami Frost Wind Ensemble concert program, 27 October 2016

Krenek composed his Three Merry Marches, Op. 44 for the 1926 Donaueschingen Contemporary Music Festival. This work was premiered by the Infantry-Regiment No. 15 Band, conducted by his friend Hermann Scherchen. It was included in a program featuring works by such other contemporary composers as Paul Hindemith, Ernst Pepping, and Ernst Toch.

Three Merry Marches reflects several influences: the fun-loving spirit of Krenek’s first wife as well as the practical and entertaining qualities of the music heard during his 1925 visit to Paris. While these pieces adhere to the stylistic characteristics expected in concert marches, they challenge the performer and listener through quirky melodies and challenging harmonic progressions. In some ways, it appears that Krenek offers a satiric view of the military march tradition.

- Program Note by Tiffany Engle for Calvin University Wind Ensemble concert program, 1 May 2021

Media

Audio: Sinfonieorchester Baden Baden (Erich Schmid, conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Indiana University (Bloomington) Wind Ensemble Chamber Winds (Rodney Dorsey, conductor) - 1 February 2022
Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Wind Ensemble (Tiffany Engle, conductor) - 1 May 2021
Miami (Ohio) University Wind Ensemble (Gary A. Speck, conductor) - 16 March 2021
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Concert Band (Courtney Snyder, conductor) - 14 March 2021
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Wind Ensemble (Lauren Visel, conductor) - 10 October 2020
Cincinnati (Ohio) Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble (Brendan Boyle, conductor) - 30 September 2020
Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Madison Argo, conductor) - 5 October 2020
Georgia State University (Atlanta) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Bryant L. Wahl-Perrin, conductor) – 18 February 2020
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Symphony Band Chamber Winds (Nick Balla, conductor) – 4 October 2019
University of Cincinnati (Ohio) College-Conservatory of Music Wind Orchestra (Thomas Gamboa, conductor) – 8 November 2018
University of Massachusetts (Amherst) Wind Ensemble (Matthew Sypek, conductor) – 22 April 2018
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Mallory Thompson, conductor) – 3 November 2017
University of Miami (Fla.) Frost Wind Ensemble (Robert Carnochan, conductor) – 27 October 2016
Temple University (Philadelphia) Wind Symphony Chamber Winds (Emily Threinen, conductor) – 23 March 2016
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Concert Band (Courtney Snyder, conductor) – 7 December 2015

Works for Winds by This Composer

Dream Sequence (1975)
Drei Lustige Märsche (1926/1957)
Kleine Blasmusik (1931)
Symphony for Winds and Percussion (1924-25)
Three Impressions (arr. Erickson) (1970)

Resources

Krenek, E. [1957]. Drei Lustige Märsche, für Blasorchester. [Op. 44.]. [Score]. Universal Edition: [s.l.]
Krenek Institute website