Sheet Music: Hungarian March

TitleHungarian March
from La damnation de Faust
Alternate titlesMarche hongroise from The Damnation of Faust
Opus numberOp. 24
ComposerHector Berlioz (1803–1869)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyA major
RangeC♮4–A6
Time signature2/2
Tempo88 BPM
Performance time5:00
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (122 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.4 MB)
Date added2011-07-04
Last updated2011-07-04
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.7 (average)
Categories
Marches, Romantic

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Monday 4 July 2011

Tune of the Day: Hungarian March

from “The Damnation of Faust” by Hector Berlioz

French composer Hector Berlioz called his opera La damnation de Faust a “légende dramatique” (dramatic legend). This work was inspired by a translation of Goethe's dramatic poem Faust and, like the masterpiece it's based on, it defies easy categorization. It was first performed in Paris in 1846.

The celebrated Marche hongroise, or Hungarian March, concludes the first of the four parts of the opera. Berlioz relates in his Memoirs the circumstances of the composition, based on a Hungarian national theme (Rákóczy-indulo). The electrifying effect of the first performance in Budapest incited Berlioz to include it in La damnation de Faust, which he was composing at the time.

Thanks to Holly for suggesting this piece!