Marching to the Canon: The Life of Schubert's Marche MilitaireMarching to the Canon examines the history of Schubert's Marche militaire no.1 from its beginnings, through its many arrangements, to its impact on dance, literature, film, and music. Marche militaire is Franz Schubert's most recognizable and beloved instrumental work. Originally published for piano four hands in 1826, this tuneful march -- Schubert's first of three military marches -- was arranged, adapted, and incorporated into new incarnations over the next two centuries. Its success was due to its chameleonlike ability to cross the still-porous borders between canonic and popular repertories, creating a performance life thatmade deep inroads into dance, literature, and film, and inspired quotations or allusions in other music Marching to the Canon examines the history of Schubert's storied Marche militaire from its modest beginnings as aduet published for domestic consumption to its now-ubiquitous presence. After detailing the composition, publication, and reception of the original march, the book analyzes the impact of transcriptions and arrangements for solo piano, orchestra, band, and other settings. In addition, it considers the ways the march was used symbolically, even manipulated, during the Franco-Prussian War and the two world wars, as well as the diverse creative uses of the piece by significant figures as varied as Willa Cather, Isadora Duncan, Walt Disney, and Igor Stravinsky. This study of the reception and impact of the Marche militaire offers a unique narrative illuminating the world that enshrined this remarkable score as one of the most memorable musical works of the nineteenth century. Scott Messing is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Music at Alma College, and the author of two works available from theUniversity of Rochester Press: Neoclassicism in Music and the two-volume Schubert in the European Imagination. |
Contents
Carl Tausig and His Progeny | 21 |
Edification and Entertainment | 56 |
The Marche militaire at War and Peace | 87 |
Isadora Duncan and Loie Fuller | 108 |
From Novel to Ephemera | 134 |
Animated Scores and Biedermeier Dreams | 162 |
Poulenc and Stravinsky | 182 |
Common terms and phrases
Almada Negreiros American appeared April artistic audience August band Beethoven Berlin Boston Brooklyn Daily Eagle Carl Carnegie Hall Carreño Cather century Chicago Circus Polka city’s composer composer’s composition concert contemporary crafted critic cultural Daily Damrosch dancer Daudet’s decades December Deutsch duet earlier ensemble familiar February film four hands Francis Poulenc Franz Schubert French genre German Igor Stravinsky Isadora Duncan January Journal July June keyboard Leipzig listeners Liszt Loie Fuller London Magazine Marche militaire melody military march musicians Musik newspaper nonetheless November October Opera orchestra Paris performance pianist piano playing the Marche popular Poulenc Proust Prussian published recalled recital record rendition repertory Review scene Schubert-Tausig Schubert’s march Schubert’s Marche Militaire Schubert’s music Schubert’s piece score Sloan solo Sonata songs story Stravinsky Symphony Tausig’s arrangement tion trans transcription University Press Vienna Viennese virtuosos Wiéner Willa Cather work’s World writer wrote York Sun York Tribune Zeitung