Johann Strauss composed his famous march in 1848 dedicating it to the Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky. Unlike the traditional march that is intended first of all for military bands to march to, Strauss’ composition was rather celebratory. According to an assumption, it was inspired by the singing of Radetzky’s soldiers that entered Vienna after winning the Custoza battle. It is this battle that Strauss was commissioned to write a commemoration to.
It is believed that Radetzky March incorporates the elements from some of Strauss’ earlier works, particularly Jubel-Quadrille. A similarity with Haydn’s Symphony No.100, as well as with the old folksong Alter Tanz aus Wien can also be noted. So, as a result, we have a not-very-traditional representative of the military music genre.
The characteristic rhythmic pattern of the work (3 anapaests and a iamb) made it popular for various interpretations among contemporary performers. But perhaps the most ‘military’ one, to my mind, belongs to the one below. In fact, you can’t get more military than that – Radetzky March was played with guns, Russian shooter Vitaly Kryuchin as ‘soloist’:
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| Vitaly Kryuchin 'shoots' Radetzky March |
The characteristic rhythmic pattern of the work (3 anapaests and a iamb) made it popular for various interpretations among contemporary performers. But perhaps the most ‘military’ one, to my mind, belongs to the one below. In fact, you can’t get more military than that – Radetzky March was played with guns, Russian shooter Vitaly Kryuchin as ‘soloist’:
