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The
Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan
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This magnificent march by Franz Liszt, has somewhat obscure origins. It is thought to have come from an original tune composed around 1809 by a Hungarian gipsy violinist named János Bihari. Franz composed the march in honour of Prince Francis Rákóczy, who led the Hungarian revolt against Austrian domination in 1703-11. This Mid-European country, mountainous in the North and West and bisected by the Danube river, was populated largely by the Magyar people who originated in the Ural Mountains in Russia in around 9th Century AD. Since then it has been invaded numerous times, 'liberated' finally by the Habsburgs of Austria. The Magyars were denied their own language and culture, and Hungarian patriots revolted against this oppression. (Students of Hungarian history, please comment). As a major player on the world's concert platforms, this tune became a must for Franz to play by virtue of its popularity. Why? Well, it is intensely patriotic, but it also contains wonderful music. Listen to the chording, the timing, the melodies, the syncopation. It all adds up to a resounding musical success. It moves smoothly between the keys of A minor (a touch of the gipsy) and A major. In the Trio Section1 (bars 48 - 58) we have chosen a solo violin to commemorate its origins. Although he composed it as a piano piece, it has been successfully arranged for orchestra by major composers (including Berlioz2, and Johann Straus3) who included it in their works. (Comments from Musicologists welcome). We hope you have enjoyed our MusicSmiles orchestral arrangement. Wow! It's a humdinger isn't it? We bet that our dance-visitors could enjoy a field-day with this tune!
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1. Footnote: The Trio section is the central section of a minuet, scherzo, or march. It is usually of a gentler contrast to the first section and its repeat. It is called 'Trio' because it was often (but not always) written in three parts - as for a trio. Return to story. 2. Footnote: Berlioz arranged it as Marche hongroise in 1846 and later remodelled it and added it to his Scenes from Faust as La Damnation de Faust.Return to story. 3. Footnote: The tune also occurs in Johann Strauss II's Der Zigeunerbaron. (The Gipsy Baron). Produced in Vienna in 1885.
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