Marche Hongroise

From Wind Repertory Project
Hector Berlioz

Hector Berlioz (arr. Yo Goto)


This work also bears the titles Damnation of Faust, Rakoczy March, and Hungarian March.


General Info

Year: 1820 / 1846 / 1986
Duration: c. 4:35
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Neil A Kjos Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $55.00   |   Score Only - $7.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C 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
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Mallet percussion
  • Snare Drum


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The melodies in this work reportedly date from the time of Ferencz Rákóczy (1676-1735), a Hungarian national hero from whom this march takes one of its names. The march was popularized by Rákóczy's army and sung by the Hungarians since the 18th century. The first known printing of the original march was made in Vienna in 1820 in a collection for the piano entitled Auswahl der Beliebtesten Märsche für das K.K. 32te Linien Infanterie Regiment Fürst Esterhazy. The cover states that the collection was "composed" by Nicholas Scholl, head of the Music Chapel of Prince Esterhazy. Other sources credit Janos Bihari, a Hungarian Gypsy violinist, or Karl Vaczek, but the eminent Czech musicologist Miroslav Bláha believes the march was written by Ignatius or Joseph Ruzicka.

The work underwent several changes through the years, and Berlioz's arrangement of the shorter version was published by Treichlinger in Pest (later Budapest) in 1846. The composer decided to use the march while he was in Hungary making arrangements for a performance of The Damnation of Faust (which he described as a "dramatic legend" rather than an opera or an oratorio). He appreciated the patriotism of the Hungarians and changed his libretto to suit the situation, taking the "much traveled" Faust to Hungary so that he might see the troops depart for the war -- thus creating an opportunity for the playing of this march. The success of the plan was so overwhelming during the 1846 concert tour that Berlioz later wrote, "The hall was shaken by the wildest cries and stampings. I felt my hair standing on end."

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band


The Marche Hangroise is based on a folk tune that dates from the time of Ferencz Rákóczy (1676-1735). In 1846, Berlioz was preparing for a concert tour in Hungary; it was a time during which the Hungarian independence movement was growing ever more volatile. He was advised to include a Hungarian tune in his repertoire, and he scored his own setting of the Rákóczy March, which premiered in Budapest. Berlioz later inserted the march into his opera La damnation de Faust, it is believed, to gain more acceptance for the oratorio. He had to take liberties with the original Faust legend, to divert Faust to a Hungarian plain, where a band was playing the Rákóczy March.

- Program Note from Southwest High School Wind Symphony concert program, 17 December 2015


Media


State Ratings

  • Florida: V
  • Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
  • New York: Concert Band VI
  • Virginia: V


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Ithaca (N.Y.) College Concert Band (Benjamin Rochford, conductor) - 17 September 2023
  • East Carolina University (Greenville) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (William Staub, conductor) - 3 February 2023
  • Texas 5A Symphonic Band (Damon Talley, conductor) - 12 February 2022 (2022 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
  • Michigan State University (East Lansing) Wind Symphony (Henry Dorn, conductor) - 21 November 2021
  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) – 13 November 2018
  • Dordt College (Sioux Center, Iowa) Concert Band (Bradley Miedema, conductor) - 6 March 2018
  • Baylor University (Waco, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Steve Dailey, conductor) - 20 November 2017
  • Southwest High School (Fort Worth, Texas) Wind Symphony (Stacey Dunn, conductor) - 17 December 2015 (2015 Midwest Clinic)
  • University of Texas (Austin) Symphony Band (Ryan S. Kelly, conductor) – 2 December 2015
  • Gold Coast Wind Ensemble (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Michael Doty, conductor) - 12 April 2015
  • Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble (Oneonta, N.Y.) (Scott Rabeler, conductor) - 16 November 2014
  • Austin Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) - 19 April 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Berlioz, H.; Gotoh, [sic] Y. (1986). March Hongriouse = Hungarian March = From the Damnation of Faust [score]. Kjos West: San Diego, Calif.
  • Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 61-62.
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