Funeral March of a Marionette

Funeral March of a Marionette is one of the Gounod's best known pieces. The march has been used frequently in film and pop culture media. It is best known as the theme for the American TV program "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", which aired from 1955 to 1965. It is an eerie but good humored little march. Funeral March of a Marionette is a fun little piece of program music. It tells a simple story: a marionette dies in a duel (introduction). He is mourned by his friends (transition to march). His friends make a funeral procession to the cemetery (beginning of the march). Along the way, the mourners stop off for refreshments and drink a toast to their lost friend (middle section). They continue the procession to the graveyard (conclusion). This arrangement is for S/AATB saxophone quartet. This arrangement is in the original keys of D minor and D major. It remains in 6/8 throughout. Although it's rhythmically straightforward, the key and the alto sax 1 range makes this a piece for more experienced quartets.