72: Marches

Militaries have been around for quite some time, and with them, especially in the last few centuries, a distinctly military musical tradition has arisen. By far the most important form to have come out of that tradition is the march, written in  since we have two feet, and marching is a walking process that involves both of them in alternating sequence.


Other than the near universality of the use of  for the reason stated above ( is used, but very rarely, and other time signatures are nearly unheard of), there are very few restrictions on what a march can be.

It’s best that I show you a few examples of marches; as you listen, pay close attention to how duple they feel, and imagine yourself literally marching—or, better yet, get up and actually walk around, matching your pacing to the tempo.

·       Mozart Piano Sonata No 11 A major K 331 Barenboim - YouTube—this was written by Mozart to mimic the musical tradition of the Janissary bands of the Ottoman Empire, whose military was often attacking and trying to take Vienna

·       Beethoven Symphony No.3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’, 2nd Marcia Funebre-Adagio assai - YouTube—this is the second movement of the symphony Beethoven wrote which was initially dedicated to Napoleon, and the only movement explicitly labeled a funeral march (though he did write others and just not label them)

·       The Washington Post March - YouTube—owing to the military legacy of the march, I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t include literal uniformed military personnel playing a march

·       (HD) Opera - Verdi - Aida - Triumphal March - Lund International Choral Festival 2010 - Sweden—from about 3:44, this is one of Verdi’s most famous works

·       BSFO in Moscow: Elgar, Pomp & Circumstance March No 1—the “trio section” (recall our discussion of binary form earlier; this is B) is ubiquitous in American graduations, but both parts, A and B, are marches

·       March of the Toreadors from Carmen by Bizet - The Folsom Symphony - YouTube—perhaps Bizet’s most famous work is yet another march (and if isn’t #1, it’s certainly top 3)

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