Marche funèbre

As Printed on a Score

Printed as a movement title or heading, usually beside a slow tempo word (Lento, Adagio); it governs the character of the whole movement, including any contrasting trio.

Also spelled: marche funebre

How Composers Use It

A marche funèbre asks for the gait of a procession: slow duple metre, a steady tread in the bass, dotted rhythms, often minor with a consoling major trio. Chopin’s, in his B-flat minor sonata, is the archetype, and Gounod’s Marche funèbre d’une marionnette parodies the genre. The title signals solemnity so strongly that players will slow and darken the music — give a tempo word so the march still walks.

Example

Chopin, Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, third movement, m. 1: “Marche funèbre” is printed with the tempo “Lento”.

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