Battle Symphony

Chabrier considered his Joyeuse Marche 'idiotically comical'. Debussy described it as 'filled to overflowing with bold and colourful innovations' and a 'masterpiece of high fantasy'. It was dedicated to Vincent d'Indy who was one of Chabrier's many friends in the Parisian artistic avant-garde which included both Manet and Monet. The transcription is based on both Chabrier's piano and orchestral versions of the work and endeavours to fulfill Debussy's description of the piece as 'full of audacious harmonies, quirky instrumentation, constant rhythmic invention and an almost grotesque consistency of sound!' The concept of an orchestral woodwind section combined with a quartet of saxophones has lent itself ideally to that description.