Radetzky March

: "Radetzky March is also a book by Joseph Roth."

Radetzky March, Op. 228 is a march composed by Johann Strauss Sr. in 1848. It was dedicated to the Austrian Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, and became quite a popular march among soldiers. It is highly inspired by - not to say copied from - the final part of Rossini's ouverture from William Tell.

When it was first played, in front of Austrian officers in attendance, they promptly clapped and stomped their feet when the chorus was played. This tradition is carried over today when the march is played in classical music venues in Vienna, among members of the audience who are familiar with the tradition. It is almost always played as the last piece of music at the Neujahrskonzert, the Vienna New Year Concert.

Despite its military nature, its tone is rather festive than martial, in accordance with its dedicatee's exuberant personality and popularity in the ballroom as well as the battlefield. It is usually played in under three minutes.

Radetzky March consists of three main parts:

*The introduction: The whole orchestra plays here and the brass section plays the melody.
*The first figure: This is played by the string section.
*At figure two, the whole orchestra plays until figure three when it repeats back to the D.S. (first figure.)
*The trio: This is played by the brass section and the trumpet plays three triplets in the last bars of the trio.
*Figure five: The whole orchestra plays here.
*Figure six: The whole orchestra plays here and then repeats back to figure 5.
*The orchestra plays on the last bar.
*They go back to the D.C. (beginning).
*They play until figure three; and the piece finishes with the "Fine" ("end") bar -- i.e., the direction is "Da capo al fine" (repeat from beginning up to the word fine).

Popular culture

Danish football club AGF Aarhus play the Radetzky March in their stadium every time a goal is scored by the home team.

The 1932 book Radetzky March by Joseph Roth, depicting several generations of a military family in the last period of Austria-Hungary was inspired by the Strauss music.

The march plays an important role in several armies around the world, and its presence demonstrates the influence that Austria made in the countries whose armies play it. Chile's Army's Officers' Academy "General Bernardo O'Higgins" plays the Radetzky March because of the system imposed in it by German officers in the between world wars era. Radetzky is one of the central parts of any of their ceremonies.

In the film "Battle Royale", the teacher "Kitano" plays the Radetzky March during his first report.

In the TV series "The Prisoner", the march is a notable part of the repertoire of the Village band.

It was the theme song of the Finnish children's programme Pelle Hermanni, this version was played with a barrel organ.

The song is played on all El Al flights prior to take-off.

External links

*
* [http://www.stammtischmusik.at/noten/alter_tanz.shtml "Alter Tanz aus Wien"] , a "Radetzkymarsch" trio adaptation (sheet music)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-xyOqEyOV0 Radetzky March in the 2005 Chilean Military Parade]