Composer

:

Camille Saint-Saëns

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

March

Compose Date

:

1871

Average_duration

:

6:47

Marche héroïque, Op. 34 is a composition by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. It was composed in 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War, and premiered on January 2, 1872, in Paris. The piece is a march, and it is divided into three movements. The first movement is marked Allegro non troppo, and it begins with a fanfare-like motif played by the brass section. This motif is then taken up by the rest of the orchestra, and the march proper begins. The main theme is a bold and heroic melody played by the brass, which is then repeated by the strings. The second theme is more lyrical and is played by the woodwinds. The two themes are developed throughout the movement, with the brass and percussion providing a strong rhythmic foundation. The second movement is marked Andante, and it is a more introspective and melancholic section. It begins with a solo oboe playing a mournful melody, which is then taken up by the strings. The mood is somber and reflective, with the orchestra building to a climax before subsiding back into the melancholic theme. The third movement is marked Allegro non troppo, and it is a return to the heroic and triumphant mood of the first movement. It begins with a fanfare-like motif played by the brass, which is then taken up by the rest of the orchestra. The main theme is a bold and triumphant melody played by the brass, which is then repeated by the strings. The second theme is more playful and is played by the woodwinds. The two themes are developed throughout the movement, with the brass and percussion providing a strong rhythmic foundation. Overall, Marche héroïque, Op. 34 is a powerful and stirring composition that reflects the mood of France during the Franco-Prussian War. The heroic and triumphant themes are balanced by more introspective and melancholic sections, creating a work that is both emotionally complex and musically satisfying.

More....