March

Definition

Music with a strong steady pulse, with two or four beats in a bar, and at a speed that is suitable to march to.

A piece of music originally dating back to Egyptian times when music was used as part of the advance of an army and which is still used for military purposes. In Scottish music, military marches are usually played by pipe bands (a band of bagpipes and drums) but also by solo instruments, military bands, Scottish dance bands, fiddle orchestras and modern-style Scottish folk and Celtic rock groups.

Marches are sometimes combined into a 'set' of 'March, Strathspey and Reel'.

Examples

See a pipe band marching as it plays a march at the beginning of the video.

Related concepts

• Strathspey (N4)
• Reel (N3)