Composer

:

Hector Berlioz

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

March

Compose Date

:

1845

Average_duration

:

7:53

Hector Berlioz's "Marche funèbre pour la dernière scène d'Hamlet, H. 103" is a funeral march composed in 1849. It was premiered on December 9, 1849, at the Paris Conservatory. The piece is a part of Berlioz's larger work, "Tristia," which is a collection of three pieces that he composed after the death of his father. The "Marche funèbre pour la dernière scène d'Hamlet" is a single movement piece that lasts approximately eight minutes. It is a somber and mournful piece that is meant to accompany the final scene of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," in which the title character dies. The piece is scored for a large orchestra, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The march begins with a slow and mournful melody played by the strings. The melody is then taken up by the woodwinds and brass, creating a rich and full sound. The percussion adds a sense of solemnity to the piece, with the timpani playing a steady beat throughout. As the piece progresses, the tempo gradually increases, building to a climax before slowing down once again. The melody is repeated several times throughout the piece, with variations and embellishments added each time. The final section of the march is a quiet and peaceful coda, with the strings playing a gentle melody that fades away into silence. The "Marche funèbre pour la dernière scène d'Hamlet" is a powerful and emotional piece of music that captures the sadness and tragedy of Shakespeare's play. Berlioz's use of orchestration and dynamics creates a sense of depth and complexity, making the piece a masterpiece of Romantic music.

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