Lemare, Edwin: Marche Moderne

Although not at all ‘moderne’ (Lemare was born in 1865), this is a splendidly vulgar fun piece with which to treat an audience, whether after a service or as a grand finale in a recital programme. If your audience likes ‘Crown Imperial’ and suchlike it will enjoy this march! The opening of the main theme seems to be under the influence of Wagner but much of the rest is more original, including a marvellous introduction and an imaginative coda section reaching a second inversion of E major only five bars from the end (tonic key of E flat major)! The secondary theme is great fun – Lefubure-Wely springs to mind!