![[March] A selection of famous march masterpieces played on the piano!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d5ZcRc-qCOc/sddefault.jpg)
[March] A selection of famous march masterpieces played on the piano!
“March” refers to a march composition.
In the world of music—not just classical—there are countless masterpieces with the word “March” in their titles.
So, what kinds of marches are fun to play on the piano?
In this article, we’ve picked out march pieces from the classical repertoire that were written for piano, as well as orchestral marches arranged for solo piano.
We’ll introduce them along with performance videos and anecdotes about the pieces.
It might overturn the image of “march = full of energy”! Enjoy!
[March] Pick up masterpieces of marches played on the piano! (1–10)
Three Military Marches, D 733, Op. 51 No. 1Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert is a pivotal composer who bridged the Classical and Romantic eras, leaving more than 600 songs as well as symphonies and chamber works.
Three Military Marches, D.733 (Op.
51), is a set of three marches for piano four hands composed in 1818 and published in 1826.
The first march is especially popular, and there are numerous arrangements for orchestra, wind band, and solo piano.
The piece opens with a bright, heroic theme and is cast in a three-part form featuring fanfare-like figures.
Its memorable, accessible melody is a hallmark of the work, and its cultural impact is significant—among other things, it has been quoted in Walt Disney productions.
Concert Suite The Nutcracker, Op. 71 — No. 1: MarchTchaikovsky = Pletnev
Ballet music The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The first piece, March, from Mikhail Pletnev’s piano arrangement Concert Suite “The Nutcracker,” Op.
71, is a dazzling work whose brilliant music instantly brightens the listener’s heart.
Known as a virtuosic concert piece for solo piano, this suite consists of seven beautiful numbers, beginning with the lively, up-tempo March.
Why not enjoy the pleasure of performing this perfect Christmastime work on the piano?
March, Op. 210-23Cornelius Gurlitt
Cornelius Gurlitt was a German composer and organist active from the 19th to the early 20th century.
“March, Op.
210-23” is one of the pieces from the collection Little Music Party, aimed at students around the latter half of the Bayer method level, and it is beloved by many children.
Its lively rhythm that easily evokes the image of marching, its beautiful melodic line, and its content that helps students learn fundamental piano techniques make it a perfect choice both as a regular practice piece and for recital performances.
While enjoying the music, students can also develop expressive skills—an educational and captivating work that is quintessentially Gurlitt.
Lyric Pieces, Book V, Op. 54 No. 3 “March of the Dwarfs”Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg, Norway’s national composer, nurtured a passion for music from a young age and left behind lyrical, refined works rooted in his homeland’s folk music.
Lyric Pieces, Book V, Op.
54, published in 1891, is a collection of five piano pieces.
Among them, March of the Dwarfs is a playful miniature inspired by the troll, a fairy from Norwegian folklore, and is notable for its captivating, technically varied melodies.
Its structure alternates between a contrasting main section and a middle section, evoking the poignant yet beautiful world of the North.
Wiener MarchCarl Czerny
Carl Czerny was an Austrian composer and piano teacher, a key figure in the early 19th-century classical world, known as a pupil of Beethoven and the teacher of Liszt.
He left an enormous number of piano works, and his études for improving piano technique are still widely used today.
This piece, titled “Viennese March,” is a march for piano four hands published in London around 1826.
Within its refined character—evoking the splendor of the court—one can also feel the bold spirit characteristic of a march.
It’s a work that pianists aiming to progress from beginner to intermediate level will want to tackle.
Take this opportunity to discover the appeal of Czerny!
March from Children’s Music Book, Op. 69-1Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich, a renowned Russian composer, left significant works especially in the fields of symphonies, chamber music, and concertos.
While torn between political pressure and personal expression, he forged a complex and multifaceted style.
Among his works is the piano miniatures collection Children’s Notebook, Op.
69, composed between 1944 and 1945.
Opening the set is March, distinguished by its bright and accessible melody.
This piece, which also conveys Shostakovich’s affection for his own child, overflows with positive emotion, uplifting and encouraging its listeners.
Turkish MarchLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a composer who stood at the turning point from the Classical era to a new age of music.
The “Turkish March,” a section from The Ruins of Athens composed between 1811 and 1812, was influenced by the Ottoman military band, the Mehter, and is known as a representative example of a work that incorporates Turkish elements into Western music.
In addition to the orchestral version, the Turkish March has been arranged for solo piano and has long been beloved in arrangements by Anton Rubinstein and Franz Liszt.
Characterized by its bright and lively character, it’s a staple often performed at piano recitals.
If you keep a steady rhythm in the left hand while playing the bold, march-like melody in the right, it’s a piece that brings a smile to both listeners and performers alike.
Turkish March JazzFazil Say
Fazıl Say is a Turkish-born pianist and composer who spans a wide range of genres from classical music to jazz.
In Japan, he is known for the catchphrase “A prodigy! A genius! Fazıl Say!” His piece Turkish March Jazz is a jazz-style arrangement of the third movement, “Rondo alla Turca,” from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famed Piano Sonata No.
11.
Just when you think the familiar melody has begun, it gradually transforms into Fazıl Say’s jazz-inflected world.
Skillfully blending Western classical music with Turkish local color and musical elements, the work is an ambitious and technically demanding piece.
Advanced players interested in a Turkish March with a distinctive twist should definitely give it a try!
Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 2: “Soldiers’ March”Robert Schumann
It’s a bright and cheerful piece that vividly conjures up the image of soldiers marching in step right before your eyes! The second piece from “Album for the Young,” Soldier’s March, is built on a series of chords and dotted rhythms.
By practicing slowly and carefully, while consciously staying relaxed, you’ll gain control over chords that tend to become tense and uneven.
To internalize the springy rhythm, it’s also recommended to incorporate rhythm clapping into your practice.
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, III. “Funeral March”Frederic Chopin
Piano Sonata No.
2 in B-flat minor, Op.
35, composed by Frédéric Chopin.
Among its movements, the third is especially famous, affectionately known as the “Funeral March.” Its grave melody and rhythm leave a profound impression on listeners, making it a masterpiece among masterpieces.
The march was composed in 1837, and the entire work was completed in 1839.
At the time, Chopin was staying at George Sand’s manor, where he appears to have carried out the final touches.
The work consists of four movements, from Grave to Presto, and in each movement the composer’s musical genius is fully displayed.
It is also said that at Chopin’s funeral, this movement was performed in a string ensemble arrangement.