Today(06 Nov 2005), I have recorded 3 of Chopin’s Funeral March. Performance wise, I think its not even practice standard. Recording wise, quality “as good” as my playing, stored in compressed wave on my cheap muvo fm mp3 player / voice recorder(ima adpcm 8kHz, mono, 4bit, 32kbps). Its played on the untuned Bohemia piano in my home. Maybe if you had heard me performing before entering national service or about 1 year ago, you might certainly hear some rust. Then ago, recording always make me nervous and I have never play better to anyone than to myself. Not to give any more excuses, I think the most important reason is that I dont have a good standard and have never reach anywhere near perfect. Anyway these recording are just for my fun and hopeful to your entertainment.
“Chopin has 3 funeral marches?? So what they?”, you might ask.
1. Sonata Op.35 Marche Funebre
The most commonly heard, known and loved version I think. Its actually the center extract from Chopin Sonata Op.35 (Movement 2?)where it is written Marche Funebre.
2. Prelude in C Minor Op.28 No.20
I dont think Chopin named it funeral march but it is the nickname for Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor Op.28 No.20. Rachmaninoff wrote variations on this- “Variations on a Theme of Chopin”.
3. Funeral March, Op.72 No.2
This is the only piece I found which is titled Funeral March by Chopin. Its his Op. 72 No.2. I dont think its very popular although many others like I learned to love this piece.
Simlarities I have noticed between these 3 pieces.
-Minor Key.
-Have a dotted and halved rythmn. (although sometimes I get lazy and dont play them well)
-With a distinct peasant melody in the center of the music(exception the prelude), before its recurring theme
Something else interesting? I’m not sure if any of these funeral marches are played in Chopin Funeral, but according to what I have read on the old Chopin Files, the Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No.4 “Suffocation” on the organ.
And oh for those who want the scores for the pieces, you can find them on Sheet Music Archive
Also see this thread in chopin files forum for comments by others
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