Ludwig van Beethoven – “Turkish March” (from The Ruins of Athens)

E448598

Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Turkish March” from The Ruins of Athens is a lively orchestral piece that imitates the style of Ottoman janissary bands with its distinctive rhythmic drive and percussive color.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Statements (44)

Predicate Object
instanceOf incidental music
march
orchestral piece
alsoKnownAs Marcia alla turca (Beethoven) NERFINISHED
approximateCompositionYear 1811
associatedWithComposer Ludwig van Beethoven NERFINISHED
catalogueNumber Op. 113, No. 4
commissionedFor opening of a new theater in Pest
composer Ludwig van Beethoven NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin Austrian Empire NERFINISHED
era early 19th century
frequentlyArrangedFor piano duet
piano solo
wind band
genre incidental music
hasForm march form
historicalContext written for a stage work honoring Emperor Franz I
influencedBy Ottoman janissary bands NERFINISHED
key B-flat major
librettist August von Kotzebue NERFINISHED
movementOf Op. 113
notableCharacteristic catchy, memorable main theme
imitates Turkish military music
opusNumber Op. 113
orchestrationFeature percussive color
use of percussion to imitate janissary bands
originalLanguage German
originalTitle Marsch des türkischen Heeres NERFINISHED
partOf The Ruins of Athens NERFINISHED
performanceMedium military band (arrangements)
orchestra
period Classical era
popularTitle Turkish March NERFINISHED
premiereCountry Kingdom of Hungary NERFINISHED
premierePlace Pest NERFINISHED
premiereYear 1812
rhythmicFeature march-like pulse
strong dotted rhythms
style Turkish style
janissary music
tempoCharacter lively
tonalCenter B-flat major
usedIn concert repertoire
piano teaching repertoire

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ottoman military music (mehter) influencedWork Ludwig van Beethoven – “Turkish March” (from The Ruins of Athens)