Funeral march
A slow march for a funeral ceremony.
What it means
The funeral march is a slow march that originally accompanied a funeral procession and became, in art music, a movement type of its own. The Italian designation is marcia funebre.
Characteristic are a slow, striding tempo, an even metre, mostly in quadruple time, a minor key, and a serious, solemn character. Typical are dotted rhythms that give the step weight, as well as dull, pounding figures in the bass reminiscent of muffled drums.
Like many marches, the funeral march often also has a middle section in major, which works as consolation or remembrance, before the serious main part returns. This contrast between mourning and consolation is among the most effective devices of the form.
The funeral march is to be distinguished from the ordinary march through tempo and expression: it strides slowly and heavily rather than briskly and festively.
In the notation
The funeral march mostly stands in four-four time in minor, with a slow tempo marking. Dotted rhythms and sustained or pounding basses are characteristic. The form is often ternary, with a contrasting middle section.
Musical use
As a movement type the funeral march appears in symphonies, sonatas, and incidental music, especially in nineteenth-century music. In operas it accompanies burial scenes, and in instrumental works it stands for moments of deep mourning. Alongside this it has kept its place at actual funeral ceremonies, especially in wind-band music.
Famous funeral marches come from Beethoven in the Eroica and from Chopin in his Sonata in B-flat minor. They combine a measured step with dark harmony, muted colours, and often a lighter trio as a middle section. The tempo is slow, the rhythm often dotted and heavy. Low instruments and muffled drums reinforce the sombre effect.
Performance practice
Keep the tempo slow and steady; the step must not waver. Play dotted rhythms precisely and with weight. Choose a dark sound. Shape the middle section as a contrast in colour and expression. And avoid dragging — weight arises from evenness, not from delay.