Jessel, Leon

International Music Score Library Project [IMSLP] entry: Leon Jessel

Leon Jessel [1871-1942] was a German composer of operettas and other light music. Despite converting to Christianity, and despite huge popularity, he fell foul of the Nazis, and was tortured to death in Berlin.

Piece	MP3	Midi	Genre
Moroccan Patrol, Op. 227		MIDI	piano
	Also known as Marokkanische Patrouille, and subtitled Characteristic Piece, Foxtrot or March. Some versions are described as One-step. Published by Enoch and Sons, of London, in 1911. The instruction is Moderato. With well marked rhythm. Sequenced from the IMSLP copy.
Parade of the Tin Soldiers		MIDI	piano
	The Parade of the Tin Soldiers, variously also known as Die Parade der Zinnsoldaten or Parade des Soldats de Bois, is Jessel's best known work, his Op 123. This is more-or-less the original version, but it also exists in orchestral, duet and simplified versions. Marked as Allegretto grazioso. It was popularised by its inclusion in a revue, the Chauve-Souris, (The Bat), which was a roaring success in Germany, France and on Broadway. In the revue, the tale is of a parade of soldiers who were never told to halt until someone remembered them when they had reached Siberia. At the end, there is a loud chord and all the soldiers fall down. Sequenced mostly in 2012 mostly from my own copy, but with a few nods to other versions. I have a soft spot for this piece, as I learned the simplified version as a child; this version is appreciably harder. My copy was printed in England by Enoch and Sons, of London, but it is copyright 1912 by Heinrichhofen's Verlag (Magdeburg). The piece was composed in 1897 and first published in 1905. My music teacher used to sing along Little tin soldier, little tin soldier, please will you marry me?, which was a little incongruous and doubtless bore little relation to any official lyrics.

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Andy Walker, anw [at] cuboid4.me.uk [remove digit to construct address]