The Funeral March of a Marionette (Known as Marche funèbre d'une marionnette in French) is a short piece by Charles Gounod. It was originally written for solo piano in 1872 and orchestrated in 1879. The work is in the key of D minor with a central section in D major; the time signature is 6/8.
is the music that was used in The Puppet Princess and The Treasure Behind the Little Red Door.
Summary[]
In Season 2[]
In The Puppet Princess, Funeral March of a Marionette was used for singing to help the three little puppet to get to the puppet show.
In The Treasure Behind the Little Red Door, Funeral March of a Marionette was used for sing to get to the little red door.
Structure[]
As it is a standalone piece, it only contains one movement. However, the piece contains a short storyline associated with it:
Storyline of Funeral March of a Marionette[]
- The Marionette has died in a duel.
- The funeral procession commences (D minor).
- A central section (D major) depicts the mourners taking refreshments before returning to the funeral march (D minor).
Additionally, inscriptions are found throughout the score as follows:
- La Marionnette est cassée!!! (The marionette is broken!!!)
- Murmure de regrets de la troupe (Murmurs of regret from the troupe)
- Le Cortège (The procession)
- Ici plusieurs des principaux personnages de la troupe s'arrêtent pour se rafraîchir (Here many of the principal personages stop for refreshments)
- Retour à la maison (Return to the house)
Episode Appearances[]
Season 2[]
Songs adapted from Funeral March of a Marionette[]
The Puppet Princess[]
The Treasure Behind the Little Red Door[]
Trivia[]
- The piece was dedicated to Madame Viguier, a pianist and the wife of Alfred Viguier, the first violin in the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire.
In popular culture[]
- The music is most famously used for the theme tune for the series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
