Symphony-Cantata in Eb "Bread and Roses", ZV 183, III: Marcia funebre

Описание: The lyrics are derived from the "Bread and Roses" poem, often associated with labor rights and women's suffrage. This is the (planned) third movement of a choral symphony set to the entire poem, focusing on the somber third verse.

Grave, solemn and somber. The movement begins with a heavy, rhythmic pulse in the strings utilizing triplet figures. The tenor line (performed by women) enters with the grim imagery of "unnumber'd women-dead" marching in spirit. An accelerando leads the piece out of the funeral march.

Midway through, the tempo shifts to a slightly faster Andante grazioso. The mood lightens as the lyrics focus on fighting for "art and love and beauty," and the "sun of hope and justice". The piece concludes with a repeat of the first section, followed by a faster coda , ending with a sudden fortississimo strike in the timpani (the sole occurrence in the movement) and pizzicato in the strings.

Lyrics:
As we go marching, marching
Unnumber'd women dead
Go crying thro' our singing
Their ancient call for bread
They march with us in spirit,
Tho' each body decomposes,
Yea, 'tis not just bread we fight for,
For we also fight for roses.

With art and love and beauty
And joy their spirits fill'd,
And deck'd their souls with gladness,
E'en tho' their hearts fell still.
The sun of hope and justice,
Gleams on the morning dew,
Yea, 'tis not just bread we fight for,
For we fight for roses too.