Marche Joyeuse

From Wind Repertory Project
Emmanuel Chabrier

Emmanuel Chabrier (arr. Fred Junkin)


General Info

Year: 1885 / 1998
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano four-hands
Publisher: TRN Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00   |   Score Only (print) - $20.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano or Harp
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Snare Drum
  • Triangle


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Marche Joyeuse is a popular orchestra piece by the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier. It was first performed on 4 November 1888 in Angers, conducted by the composer. It is dedicated to Vincent d'Indy.

- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music


Marche Joyeuse began its life as the Prélude et marche française, a piece for piano four hands written in 1885. Chabrier transformed, orchestrated, and dedicated the work to fellow French composer Vincent d'Indy in 1885 for a première later that year. Chabrier considered this piece “idiotically comical” and stated that “the musicians were in stitches.” His characteristic wit is on full display throughout the piece, demonstrated by his inventive use of orchestration, harmony, and rhythm. Debussy gave the piece high praise, calling the Marche Joyeuse a “masterpiece of high fantasy.”

- Program Note from the United States Marine Band concert program, 18 August 2022


The march went through several versions before arriving at the popular orchestral version known today. In September 1888 Chabrier wrote to his publisher that he would be orchestrating six piano pieces: four pieces from his piano suite Pièces pittoresques (which would become his Suite pastorale), as well as La marche française and the Andante in F. Delage proposes that the Andante was originally performed in 1875 at the Cercle de l'Union artistique in Paris, with Jules Danbé conducting his orchestra. However, the pieces are also related to Chabrier's Prélude et marche française for piano four-hands, completed by May 1885, the Andante having by then become a Prélude.

By the time of the Paris premiere in April 1889, the title had changed to Marche joyeuse. The piece was again enthusiastically received. The final version of the work's title was reached at a Lamoureux concert on 16 February 1890, when the march became the Joyeuse marche. However, the Prélude then disappeared until it surfaced among autographs belonging to Robert Brussel in 1943. The Joyeuse marche became particularly popular, and was also played in a piano duet version. The tempo marking for the march is 'Tempo di marcia molto risoluto e giocoso'.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Maryland Winds (Baltimore) (Timothy Holtan, conductor) - 19 February 2023
  • University of Maryland (College Park) Wind Ensemble (Andrea Brown, conductor) - 7 December 2022
  • United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Darren Lin, conductor) - 18 August 2022
  • Michigan State University (East Lansing) Wind Symphony (Brett Echols, conductor) – 6 February 2020
  • Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Cathy Johnson, conductor) - 8 March 2018 (83rd Annual ABA National Convention)
  • Dallas (Tex.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 27 February 2018
  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Concert Band (Jason H. Nam, conductor) – 26 September 2017
  • University of Arizona (Tucson) Wind Ensemble (Chad R. Nicholson, conductor) – 23 March 2017
  • Michigan State University (East Lansing) Symphony Band (John T. Madden, conductor) – 1 December 2016
  • Orchestra Collective (Singapore) (Boon Hua Lien, conductor) – 22 July 2012


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources