Funeral March (Sonata No. 2), Op. 35 mvt 3

F. ChopinOp. 35 mvt 3

Key

Bbm

Time

C

Tempo

♩=56

AO focus

AO1

Form

Marche funèbre — ABA. The most-played funeral piece in Western culture. Chopin wrote it standalone in 1837 and built the Sonata Op. 35 around it. The B section ('trio') is a tender D♭ major lullaby.

Teaching points

• March rhythm — even quarter-note pulse, dotted-eighth + sixteenth on the bass
• Trio contrast — the central section is a hushed D♭ major. Total mood reversal
• AO1: standard repertoire at state funerals worldwide
• Practical: Grade 8 piano staple