Radetzky March

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 has been remarked that its tone is more celebratory than martial-- Strauss was commissioned to write the piece for a celebration of Radetsky's victory at the Battle of Custoza.

For the Trio Strauss used an older folk melody called „Alter Tanz aus Wien“ or „Tinerl-Lied“ in 3/4 time signature (named after a then popular singer). When Radetzky came back to Vienna after winning the battle of Custoza (1848), his soldiers were singing the then popular song. Allegedly Strauss heard this singing and included the melody, this time in 2/4 time signature, into the Radetzky march.

When it was first played in front of Austrian officers they spontaneously clapped and stamped their feet when they heard the chorus. This tradition is kept alive 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 at the Neujahrskonzert, the Vienna New Year Concert.

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).

Since 1896 it has been the official presentation march of the Chilean Army's Military School of the Liberator Bernardo O'Higgins. The 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards adopted the Radetzky March as its regimental quick march.