Military Polonaise

This is a Concert Band arrangement of Chopin's "Military Polonaise" or Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40 for piano. Almost all the repeats in the original are written out and orchestrated slightly differently each time. Comments and performance opportunities

Military Polonaise

Wonderfull! Very nicely arranged. I don't know what to critique on... Just one question, did you consider thinning the orchestration even more for the first time of the repeat you did leave in (mm33-48)? It felt just a little like one repeat too many of that 2nd theme. Maybe if you let it build up to the fortes in m65/66 with ever increasing thickness of orchestration, it would conceil the repeating theme a bit. Though on the other hand, you do need to state that 2nd theme firmly enough... What are your thoughts on that? Anyways, 10/10!

Great orchestration, although very standard as far as concert band marches go, which isn't a bad thing at all. The simplicity of it all is, I suspect, a love-hate affair. I liked it and found it very enjoyable, but some other members will probably dislike the lack of variety in orchestration, counterpoint and harmony. I find it really good nonetheless hones:

Personally I disagree with Chopin's music being arranged, (as there is much rubato needed) however I am open to suggestions. I hope they aren't playing this this fast or it would turn into a Gallop rather than a march. I find that when the second theme after the run up, the instrumentation could be much fuller. I suggest you read about Chopin's polonaises and find out their mood, this arrangement is too cheesy grins for me.

P.S just to let you know that I found the arrangement very nice and good work. ust the couple of things at the top I have suggested for you to work on. didn't realize me comment was so scathing!

Cool arrangement Tokke, I definitely enjoyed this.

@Wannabe: Lol, not all Chopin needs rubato and I would think that if this were performed it would be played differently to this midi we've listened to.

Wow...I like this very much! The arrangement is just varied and imaginative enough to be entirely your own, while still paying due homage to Chopin's original material.

In my arrangement, I was going to use cornets and horns alternately for the C section melody, but you've used winds, and I think I may like it better.

Interesting to me is the fact that this seems to work very well as a march, even though it's in triple metre. This is in part due to your fine arrangement for band, but also I think because Chopin understood the polonaise dance form well. The polonaise is basically a line dance that functioned in social dancing very much as a western-style ballroom march did - an elaborate promenade, usually at the beginning of a ball, that served as an opportunity for the dancers to admire each other's evening attire. Without the rubato that is traditionally interpolated into modern interpretations of Chopin, and at a slightly brisker clip, as you've done, there's no reason I can see that an arrangement such as this couldn't be used by marching bands and the military. You should probably consider publishing it!

You're becoming a master orchestrator, Justin! Keep up the good work

BTW - I found an example of this piece being danced in a ballroom setting on YouTube - I think it's just gorgeous!

Justin, just thought I'd point out that you didn't put any copyright information at the foot of your score. I'd like to print this out so I can examine it more closely - I'm increasingly intrigued with what you've done, and really want to study it - but I hesitate because it lacks that copyright marking. I also think you should add it because I really do think this arrangement is publishable, and you should protect it.