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- Sergei Prokofiev
March in B-flat (for symphonic wind band, critical edition), Op. 99 (1944)
- Schirmer Russian Music/Le Chant du Monde (USA, Canada and Mexico only)
Available in the USA, Canada and Mexico only
arr. Paul Yoder
ed. William Berz
Programme Note
Composed in 1943–1944, the March in B-flat major, Op. 99, is one of Sergei Prokofiev’s most cheerful and enduring contributions to the wind band repertoire. Originally written for a Soviet military band to bolster national spirit during World War II, the work eschews bombastic aggression in favor of a spirited, buoyant, and slightly humorous character that is quintessentially Prokofiev. The piece premiered via a Moscow radio broadcast on April 30, 1944, followed by a prestigious American premiere in 1945 conducted by Serge Koussevitzky. Structurally, the march follows a traditional ternary form, featuring a "bouncing" main theme filled with the composer’s signature chromatic wit. While many modern bands use arrangements by Paul Yoder, the critical edition restores Prokofiev’s original, transparent scoring for military instrumentation. Prokofiev later repurposed this melodic material in his opera The Story of a Real Man, cementing the march's place as a key melodic gem of his late career.
Related Works:
March in B-flat (for orchestra)
March in B-flat (for symphonic wind band)
March in B-flat (for brass band)
