Sheet Music: Turkish March

TitleTurkish March
from The Ruins of Athens
Alternate titlesMarcia alla turca from Die Ruinen von Athen
Opus numberOp. 113
ComposerLudwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyB-flat major
RangeA4–F6
Time signature2/4
Tempo108 BPM
Performance time1:50
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (91 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (899 kB)
Date added2011-10-26
Last updated2011-10-26
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 5.1 (very popular)
Categories
Classical, Marches, Piccolo tunes

Performances

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Wednesday 26 October 2011

Tune of the Day: Turkish March

by Ludwig van Beethoven, transcribed for solo flute

This well-known classical theme takes its name from the Turkish style popular in music at the end of the 18th century. The theme was first used in Beethoven's 6 Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 76, of 1809. Two years later, Beethoven wrote an overture and incidental music to a play called The Ruins of Athens, which premiered in Pest in 1812, and the Turkish March appeared as item No. 4 of the incidental music. That's why many music lovers associate the theme with The Ruins of Athens, even though that was not its original appearance.

As you will notice, the dynamic scheme of the march is highly suggestive of a procession passing by, starting out pianissimo, poco a poco rising to a fortissimo climax and then receding back to pianissimo by the coda.

The present transcription mostly follows the piccolo part of Beethoven's orchestral setting.

Thanks to Sunny for suggesting this piece!

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