Wiktionary
n. (context music English) A slow march in a "simple duple" meter, often played at funerals.
WordNet
n. a slow march to be played for funeral processions [syn: dead march]
Wikipedia
A funeral march (Marche funèbre in French, Marcia funebre in Italian, Trauermarsch in German) is a march, usually in a minor key, in a slow "simple duple" metre, imitating the solemn pace of a funeral procession. Some such marches are often considered appropriate for use during funerals and other sombre occasions, the most well-known being that of Chopin. Handel uses the name dead march, also used for marches played by a military band at military funerals and executions.
Usage examples of "funeral march".
The carousel calliope, among the hills, piping the 'Funeral March' backwards.
A group of masked musicians kept playing the Funeral March over and over, with brief pauses in between.
Cadets bearing a star of red roses and a cushion covered with medals were followed by a porter pushing a handcart and coffin, then a dozen shuffling generals in dark-green dress uniforms and white gloves, two musicians with trumpets and two with dented tubas playing a funeral march from a sonata by Chopin.