Bataille de Maringo (sic)

Bataille de Maringo (sic)

Marche
Commandement Maestoso (coup de canon)
Appel de Trompettes (coup de canon)
Attaque

Allegro (feu roulant, canons, l'ennemi reçoit des renforts, les Français sont repoussés et font retraite jusqu'à St. Juliano, le Ier Consul arrête ce mouvement rétrograde),
 
All[egr]o assai (le corps commandé par Dessaix charge l'ennemi à la baïonnette. Ce général est blessé mortellement),
 
All[egr]o vivace (les troupes qu'il commandait brûlant de venger sa mort se précipitent avec fureur sur la première ligne ennemie. L'ennemie se replie sur sa deuxième ligne, les deux lignes réunies chargent à leur tour les Français. Kelermann à la tête de la cavalerie française charge l'ennemi, galop des chevaux, coups de sabre, l'ennemi est culbuté, il est forcé de prendre la fuite, il est poursuivi jusqu'au delà de Marengo),
 
Lento (plaintes des blessés et des mourants),
 
Allegro (Trompettes annonçant la victoire, coup de canon).
 
Ier. Air après la victoire Allegro
2ème. Air dans le genre egiptien All[egr]o
3ème. Air Pas redoublé Allegro
Coda (coup de canon).

Commentary

Bernard Viguerie

French music teacher, composer and music dealer, Bernard Viguerie was born in Carcassone circa 1761. He died in Paris in March 1819. In Paris he studied with Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet-Charpentier, where he completed his studies at the age of 22. In 1795, he opened a 'Magasin de Musique et d'Instrumens' based at 38, rue Vivienne, Paris. He is particularly known for his piano method (c.1795) of which it has been said 'There are few works that are more mediocre or of more questionable utility than this so-called method; there are few, however, which have been more successful or run to so many editions'. Viguerie compositions comprise 13 opus numbers: opp. 1-5 were announced with the opening of the shop in 1795. The opus 13 Douze Préludes appeared ten years later. The work here, Bataille de Maringo (sic), Piece Militaire et Historique pour le Forte Piano avec accompagnemt de violon et basse. Dédiée à l'armée de réserve (opus 8), one of two battle pieces - the other being entitled Prague - should be dated before 1805 (the date of the opus 13 set) but after 14 June 1800, the date of the Battle of Marengo. A manuscript copy of the piece (unattributed) is also found in the Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome Manuscript. 2533 (Olim: O.IV. 110), fols. 22-39, with the instructions translated into Italian and the work prescribed for 'young ladies'.
 
The piece itself is a remarkable example of a programmatic work (that is, it literally tells the story of the battle), where the effects of canon blasts, sabre thrusts, cavalry charges are all indicated not only in the music but also such words are printed above the stave at the relevant moment. I imagine that the pianist or his page-turner would read these titles out to the drawing room audience as the pianist was playing. The canon blasts are the subject of special instructions and an invented symbol. The player is invited to use his stretched out right forearm and his two hands to play every single note of the bottom three octaves of the piano at once, holding them down until the vibrations have almost died away. Once the battle is over, there are three victory airs, one of which in the Egyptian style. Quite naturally the whole work finishes with one final blast of the canon!

Composer

Bernard Viguerie

Score

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