A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John Philip Sousa and the martial hymns of the late 19th century. Examples of the varied use of the march can be found in Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, in the marches militaires of Franz Schubert, in the marche funèbre in Chopin's Sonata in B flat minor, and in the Dead March in Handel's Saul. Musical genres are categories which contain music which share a certain style or which have certain elements in common. ... Military Band marching A military band is a group of soldiers assigned to musical duties. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ...   (Twilight of the Gods – see Notes) is the last of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. ... John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known particularly for American military marches. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... “Beethoven” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Schubert redirects here. ... Chopin redirects here. ... “Handel” redirects here. ... An oratorio in three acts written by George Frideric Handel with a libretto by Charles Jennens. ...

Marches were not notated until the late 16th century; until then, time was generally kept by percussion alone, often with improvised fife embellishment. With the extensive development of brass instruments, especially in the 19th century, marches became widely popular and were often elaborately orchestrated. Composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Gustav Mahler wrote marches, often incorporating them into their operas, sonatas, or symphonies. The later popularity of John Philip Sousa's band marches was unmatched. “Mozart” redirects here. ... “Beethoven” redirects here. ... “Mahler” redirects here. ... John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known particularly for American military marches. ...

Marches can be written in any time signature, but the most common time signatures are 4/4, 2/2 (alla breve [although this may refer to 4/2 time up until the time of Brahms] or cut time), and 6/8; however, some modern marches are being written in 2/4 time (although this is not always considered standard). The modern march tempo hovers around 120 beats to the minute (the standard Napoleonic march tempo); however, many funeral marches conform to the Roman standard, 60 beats to the minute. The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and what note value constitutes one beat. ...

In addition to the instrumentation, time signature and tempo, other features are characteristic of most marches (though many exceptions exist). Marches usually consist of several strains or sections, usually of 16 or 32 measures in length, and usually repeated at least once during the course of the march. Marches generally have a strong and steady percussive beat reminiscent of military field drums. Marches frequently change keys once, modulating to the subdominant (and occasionally returning to the original tonic key). Or if it begins in a minor key, it modulates to the relative major. Marches frequently counter melodies introduced during the repeat of a main melody. Marches frequently have a penultimate dogfight strain in which two groups of instruments (high/low, woodwind/brass, etc.) alternate in a statement/response format. In music, the subdominant is the technical name for the fourth tonal degree of the diatonic scale. ...

The march tempo was adapted by Napoleon Bonaparte so that his army could move faster. Since he planned to occupy the territory he conquered, instead of his soldiers carrying all of their provisions with them, they would live off the land and march faster. Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to Napoléon Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica – 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from...

March music originates from military, and often are played by a marching band. The most important instruments are various drums (especially snare drum), horns, fife or woodwind instruments and brass instruments. Marches and marching bands have even today a strong connection to military, both to drill and parades. Marches, which are played at paces with multiples of normal heartbeat, can have a hypnotic effect on the marching soldiers, rendering them into a trance, This effect was widely known already in the 16th century, and was employed to lead the soldiers in closed ranks against the enemy fire in the 16th and 17th century wars. An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement â€“ usually some type of marching and other movements  â€“ with their musical performance. ... The snare drum or side drum is a tubular drum made of wood or metal with skins, or heads, stretched over the top and bottom openings, and with a set of snares (cords) stretched across the bottom head. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with parade (military). ... United States Marines on parade. ... Trance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

A military music event where various marching bands and units perform is called tattoo.

American march music

Main article: American march music

The true "march music era" existed from 1855 to the 1940s as it slowly became shadowed by the coming of jazz. Earlier marches, such as the ones from Ludwig Van Beethoven, Wolfgang Mozart, and George Frideric Handel tended to be part of a symphony or a movement in a suite. Despite the age of these marches, the history it holds and its performance in the United States, they are generally not thought of as "typical American march music". American march music is march music written and/or performed in the United States of America. ... Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... “Beethoven” redirects here. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. ... “Handel” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In music, a suite is an organized set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed at a single sitting, as a separate musical performance, not accompanying an opera, ballet, or theater-piece. ...

American march music cannot be discussed without mentioning the "March King," John Philip Sousa. Some of his most famous marches include Semper Fidelis, The Washington Post March, The Liberty Bell, and Stars and Stripes Forever. Another popular march composer utilized by American High schools and colleges was Karl King. John Philip Sousa (November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known particularly for American military marches. ... The Washington Post* is a patriotic march composed by John Philip Sousa in 1889. ... The Liberty Bell is an American military march composed by famous bandmaster John Philip Sousa in 1893, and is considered one of his finest works. ... The Stars and Stripes Forever is a patriotic American march. ... Karl L. King (21 February 1891–31 March 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. ...

A specialized form of "typical American march music" is the circus march, or screamer, typified by the marches of Henry Fillmore and Karl King. These marches are performed at a significantly faster tempo (140 - 200 beats per minute) and generally have an abundance of runs, fanfares and other "showy" features. Frequently the low brass has one or more strains (usually the second strain) in which they are showcased with both speed and bombast. Stylistically, many circus marches employ a lyrical final strain which (in the last time through the strain) starts out maestoso (majestically -- slower and more stately) and then in the second half of the strain speeds up to end the march faster than the original tempo. A Screamer is a descriptive name for a circus march. ... Henry Fillmore (3 December 1881 - 7 December 1956) was a United States composer and publisher. ... Karl L. King (21 February 1891–31 March 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. ...

European march music

Many European countries and cultures developed characteristic styles of marches. Some of the styles and characteristics are

British marches

British marches typically move at a more stately pace (ca. 80-100 beats per minute), have intricate countermelodies (frequently appearing only in the repeat of a strain), have a wide range of dynamics (including unusually soft sections), use full-value "stingers" at the ends of phrases (as opposed to the shorter "marcato" stinger of American marches). The final strain of a British march often has a broad lyrical quality to it. Archetypical British marches include those of Kenneth Alford, such as the well-known Colonel Bogey March. Kenneth Joseph Alford was a composer, best known for his marches, of which the most famous is Colonel Bogey. ... The Colonel Bogey March is a popular march that was written in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881-1945), a British military bandmaster who was director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth. ...

Scots-Irish Marches

Scots-Irish move at a similar paces with British marches, but are distinctly different from them in that they incorporate traditional instruments of the Scots and Irish, as well as their respective Celtic and Scot harmonies. Notable Scots-Irish march performers that carry on the indigenous march traditions are The First Battalion Irish Guards, The Gordon Highlanders, Scottish Military Tattoo, and contemporaries Flogging Molly, and the Dropkick Murphys. “UK” redirects here. ... The Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1881 until 1994. ... Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish American punk band that formed in Los Angeles and is currently signed under SideOneDummy Records. ... “DKM” redirects here. ...

German marches

German marches move at a very strict tempo, and have a strong "oom-pah" polka-like/folk-like quality resulting from the bass drum and low-brass playing on the downbeats and alto voices such as "peck horn" and the snare drums playing on the off-beats. This provides a very "martial" quality to these marches. The low brass is often featured prominently in at least one strain of a German march. To offset the rhythmic martiality of most of the strains, the final strain ("trio") often has a lyrical (if somewhat bombastic) quality. Althorn redirects here. ...

Notable German and Austrian march composers include Franz von Suppe, Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Georg Fürst (Badenweiler Marsch), Carl Teike (Alte Kameraden), and Johann Gottfried Piefke (Preußens Gloria). The composer and conductor Franz von Suppé (April 18, 1819 - May 21, 1895) was born in Split, (Dalmatia), and died in Vienna. ... This article is about the German composer of tone-poems and operas. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as they were later called). ... The Badenweiler Mar(s)ch is a well-known Bavarian military march by Georg Fürst (1870-1936). ... Carl Albert Hermann Teike (February 5, 1864 – May 22, 1922) was a German composer who wrote over 100 military marches and 20 concert works. ... Alte Kameraden (Old Comrades) is the title of a popular german military march. ... Johann Gottfried Piefke (pronounced peefke) (September 9, 1815 - January 25, 1884) was a German conductor, Kapellmeister and composer of military music. ... Preußens Gloria (Glory of Prussia) Armeemarschsammlung (army march collection) II, 240 is a wellknown march of the 19th century. ...

French marches

French military marches are similar to German ones. Examples would be Saint Cyr, Marche de la 2eme DB/March of the Second Armored Division, Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse

Italian marches

Italian marches have a very "light" musical feel, often having sections of fanfare or soprano obligatos performed with a light "coloratura" articulation. This "frilly" characteristic is contrasted with broad lyrical melodies reminiscent of operatic arias. It is relatively common to have one strain (often a first introduction of the final strain) that is played primarily by the higher-voiced instruments, or in the upper ranges of the instruments's compass. A typical Italian march would be "Il Bersagliere" (The Italian Rifleman) by Boccalari.

Spanish marches

The most characteristic Spanish march form is the Pasodoble. Spanish marches often have fanfares at the beginning or end of strains that are reminiscent of traditional bullfight or flamenco music. These marches often move back and forth between major and (relative) minor keys, and often show a great variation in tempo during the course of the march reminiscent of an exaggerated or prolonged Viennese rubato. A typical Spanish march would be Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor. Pasodoble is a Spanish march-like musical style. ... For other uses, see Vienna (disambiguation). ...

Czech marches

Czech (Bohemian) march composers include František Kmoch and Julius Fučík, who wrote Entrance of the Gladiators. Flag of Bohemia Bohemia (Czech: ; German: ) is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western and middle thirds of the Czech Republic. ... FrantiÅ¡ek Kmoch FrantiÅ¡ek Kmoch (*August 1, 1848 in Zásmuky near Kolín, Bohemia † April 30, 1912 in Kolín) was a Czech composer and conductor. ... Portrait of Julius Fučík Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík (18 July 1872 – 15 September 1916) was a Czech composer and conductor of military bands. ... Entrance of the Gladiators (Czech: Vjezd gladiátorů, German: Einzug der Gladiatoren) is a military march composed in 1897 by the Czech composer Julius Fučík. ...

Middle Eastern Marches

Turkish marches

Modern Turkey's march is İstiklal Marşı. It has power and anger with an aggressive tune. But generally, old Turkish marches at the times of the Ottoman Empire are aggressive in the lyrics and more confident in the tunes, but still frightful to enemy, e.g. Mehter Marşı. It is notable that Mozart and Beethoven also wrote popular Turkish marches. Ottoman redirects here. ...

See also

• Authorized marches of the Canadian Forces

The following is a list of the authorized marches for various organizations of the Canadian Forces. ...

External links

• Marches Free military marches in mp3 from all over the world
• A History of the Wind Band: The Glorious March
• www.militarytattoo.org - Information Website