Concert Band
Marchissimo
Grade 3 | 4 Mins
Marchissimo can be played simply as written, but was really designed as a concert opener, as it gives the opportunity to bring players on stage one by one as they join in.
It is, in fact, three marches in one. The first march theme is presented by percussion with piccolo and bass clarinet and a solo tuba. They are joined by a euphonium, playing a counter melody.
The trombones then join in to accompany a solo flute and clarinet, who play the second march theme. The rest of the clarinets then join in and the second theme is then played once again by everybody on stage, the saxophones entering half way through.
The horns then enter with a third theme, more legato in character. Everyone is now on stage and this theme is then repeated by the full band. A short section follows where snatches of all the themes are thrown around the band and this builds to a final tutti, where all three themes are played simultaneously.