March

: Mendelssohn – Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2025/8/25 March

Mendelssohn – Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream The “Wedding March” is one of the most famous ceremonial pieces in the world, instantly recognized as the music that accompanies countless wedding ceremonies. Its origin lies in the incidental music that German composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote for Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With its festive and triumphant sound, the piece has become an enduring symbol of joyous new beginnings. Overview of the Piece The “Wedding March” was composed in 1842 as part of the incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the play, it is performed during the wedding ...

: Special Selection! John Philip Sousa's Great Marches

2025/8/24 March

The March King and His Legacy John Philip Sousa (1854–1932), celebrated worldwide as the “March King,” stands as one of the most influential figures in the history of band music. His compositions are not merely patriotic tunes; they are cultural landmarks that symbolize America’s spirit, optimism, and resilience. For over a century, Sousa’s marches have been performed by military bands, school ensembles, and professional orchestras across the globe. In this article, we explore Sousa’s most famous marches, arranged in chronological order, to better understand why these works continue to inspire musicians and audiences alike. Whether you are a student of ...

: Frank W. Meacham – American Patrol

2025/8/23 March

Frank W. Meacham – American Patrol Among the many famous marches in music history, few are as lively and enduring as American Patrol. Its cheerful and energetic melody has made it a staple for school bands, military ensembles, and concert performances, allowing it to remain beloved across generations. Overview of the Piece American Patrol was composed in 1885 by American composer Frank W. Meacham. Originally written for solo piano, it was later arranged for wind band and quickly gained popularity worldwide. The march is structured in a bright two-part form, blending patriotic spirit with the strong, steady rhythm typical of ...

: Johann Strauss II – Radetzky March

2025/8/22 March

Johann Strauss II – Radetzky March The Radetzky March, composed by Johann Strauss II in 1848, is a festive military march dedicated to Austrian Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. With its bright, triumphant melody and lively rhythm, the piece has become one of the most celebrated works in classical music, now closely associated with New Year’s traditions around the world. Overview of the Piece Originally intended to boost the morale of Austrian troops, the march features an upbeat, easily recognizable tune that naturally invites the audience to clap along. In fact, audience participation through rhythmic clapping has become a ...

: March Masterpieces

2025/5/29 March

Marches are a genre of music characterized by rhythmic, uplifting beats, often performed at military events, parades, and ceremonies. Their powerful rhythms and bold melodies have inspired courage and unity among people for centuries. Here, we introduce some of the most iconic marches loved around the world. John Philip Sousa "The Stars and Stripes Forever" John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever, composed in 1896, is one of the most iconic American marches. Distinguished by its powerful, brilliant melody and rhythmic energy, it is frequently performed at national celebrations and parades. This masterpiece helped earn Sousa the title “The ...

: Tōkichi Setoguchi – Battōtai March

2025/5/27 March

Tōkichi Setoguchi – Battōtai March — A Cornerstone of Early Modern Japanese Military Music The Battōtai March ("Battōtai no Uta") is one of the earliest and most iconic military marches in Japanese music history.With lyrics by Kanagaki Robun and music composed by Tōkichi Setoguchi—also known for the famous Gunkan March—this piece played a foundational role in shaping the genre of Japanese military and patriotic music during the Meiji period. Historical Background The term Battōtai refers to a unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that fought in close combat with swords during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877.Known for their fearless charges ...

: Dmitri Shostakovich – 'March' from the Suite for Variety Orchestra

2025/5/26 March

Dmitri Shostakovich – 'March' from the Suite for Variety Orchestra — Satire and Swagger in a Semi-Official National Anthem Dmitri Shostakovich’s “March” from the Suite for Variety Orchestra stands apart from his more serious symphonic works.It’s light, whimsical, and seemingly celebratory—but underneath its bright surface lies a sharp undercurrent of satire, irony, and social commentary that reflects the complexities of life in 20th-century Soviet Russia. Background The Suite for Variety Orchestra is an unusual entry in Shostakovich’s catalogue.The exact date of its composition remains unclear, and it was never published or performed under that title during the composer’s lifetime.In fact, ...

: Sergei Prokofiev – March, Op. 99

2025/5/25 March

Sergei Prokofiev – March, Op. 99 Sergei Prokofiev’s March, Op. 99 is a short yet impactful work for wind band, composed during the height of World War II in the Soviet Union.The piece blends Prokofiev’s signature energy, irony, and clarity into a compact musical statement that continues to be a favorite among concert bands and military ensembles. Background Composed in 1943, this march was commissioned as a morale-boosting piece for the Red Army’s wind ensemble.Amid the harsh wartime conditions, Prokofiev was asked to write music that was both uplifting and patriotic, yet he still managed to infuse his personality into ...

: Hector Berlioz – Rákóczi March

2025/5/24 March

Hector Berlioz – Rákóczi March Hector Berlioz’s Rákóczi March is a powerful orchestral work that combines French Romanticism with Hungarian national pride.Based on a traditional Hungarian patriotic melody, this march became widely known through its dramatic appearance in Berlioz’s dramatic legend The Damnation of Faust.With its bold orchestration and emotional intensity, the piece continues to resonate as a musical symbol of resistance, triumph, and national identity. Historical Background The Rákóczi March traces its origins to a Hungarian folk melody associated with Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II, a national hero who led a war of independence against Habsburg rule in the early ...

: Franz von Suppé – March from Light Cavalry Overture

2025/5/23 March

Franz von Suppé – March from Light Cavalry Overture The March from Franz von Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture is one of the most recognizable and beloved melodies in the world of classical music.Even those unfamiliar with classical repertoire have likely encountered this bold and energetic march in cartoons, films, commercials, or sporting events.It stands as a shining example of light classical music that combines dramatic flair with irresistible charm. Background of the Piece The Light Cavalry Overture was composed in 1866 as the introduction to Suppé’s operetta of the same name.While the operetta itself has largely faded from the stage, ...

: Giuseppe Verdi – Triumphal March

2025/5/22 March

Giuseppe Verdi – Triumphal March Giuseppe Verdi’s Triumphal March (Marcia trionfale) is one of the most iconic and majestic pieces in operatic music.Featured in Act II of his grand opera Aida, the march is celebrated for its brilliant orchestration, regal atmosphere, and emotional uplift.Its bold fanfares and ceremonial grandeur have made it a favorite not only on the opera stage but also in formal ceremonies, parades, and public events around the world. Background of the Piece Aida was composed in 1871 for the opening of the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo, Egypt.Commissioned by the Egyptian government, the opera was meant ...

: Beethoven – Turkish March

2025/5/21 March

Beethoven – Turkish March While Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca is perhaps the most widely known "Turkish March," Ludwig van Beethoven also composed a lively and distinctive piece by that name.Beethoven’s Turkish March (or Marcia alla turca) appears as part of his incidental music for the play The Ruins of Athens (Die Ruinen von Athen), and it showcases a different, more playful side of the composer—full of rhythmic energy and exotic color. Overview of the Piece Beethoven composed The Ruins of Athens in 1811 for the opening of a new theater in Pest (now part of Budapest, Hungary).The Turkish March is ...

: Richard Wagner – Under the Double Eagle

2025/5/20 March

Richard Wagner – Under the Double Eagle Under the Double Eagle (Unter dem Doppeladler) is a famous military march composed by Austrian bandmaster Josef Franz Wagner in 1893.Known for its bold rhythms and majestic melody, it has become a staple in military bands and wind ensembles around the world. Note: The composer Josef Franz Wagner is not to be confused with the German opera composer Richard Wagner. Overview of the Piece The march was inspired by the symbol of the double-headed eagle, which served as the imperial emblem of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.The title reflects themes of imperial grandeur and military ...

: Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1

2025/5/19 March

Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 is one of the most iconic and majestic marches in British classical music.Renowned for its stately melody and uplifting character, the piece is often performed at ceremonies, graduations, and national events, leaving a lasting impression on listeners worldwide. Overview of the Piece Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 was composed in 1901 as part of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance march series, which eventually included five completed works.Among them, the first march is by far the most famous and received high praise—even from King ...

: John Philip Sousa – The Stars and Stripes Forever

2025/5/18 March

John Philip Sousa – The Stars and Stripes Forever The Stars and Stripes Forever, composed by John Philip Sousa, is one of the most iconic and celebrated marches in American history.Its bold, spirited melody stirs patriotic pride and continues to energize parades, ceremonies, and celebrations across the United States and beyond. Overview of the Piece Sousa composed The Stars and Stripes Forever in 1896 after being inspired during a European trip.In 1987, the United States Congress officially designated it as the National March of the United States, underscoring its cultural and historical significance. Originally written for the Sousa Band, the ...