March

A highly rhythmic non-syncopated composition in 4/4 or 6/8 time which is designed to emphasize a steady beat in both the melody and the accompaniment. Marches dating back to the seventeenth century were largely military in nature, played by a band to provide a pace for soldiers as they marched, giving the genre its name. While early German and British marches were intended for a more leisurely pace, Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly had French marches played at a faster pace to better prepare his army for battle. The multi-part form of the march in both tonic and subdominant keys evolved in part from the earlier sonata form, and was the basis for ragtime form. Marches by John Philip Sousa and Edward Taylor Paull were highly popular during the ragtime era from the 1890s into the 1920s. The form has persisted into the 21st century, largely in cinematic soundtracks, including those by composers such as John Williams and Danny Elfman.