The "Radetzky March": Who, or What, Was a Radetzky? And Why a “Radetzky March”?

While cruising around the internet I came across a link for “Radetzky March…Chinese Version.” 

Well, the Radetzky March is a popular concert piece, but what’s so special about a Chinese version?  And, most important, why is there a “Radetzky March” at all?  Did anyone actually march to this piece, or was it strictly a concert selection?  And what is it with the hand clapping?

Johann Joseph Wenzel Anton Franz Karl, Graf Radetzky von Radetz was born November 2, 1766, in Trebnice, Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic) and died January 5, 1858, in Milan, Italy.  Joseph, Graf Radetzky, as his name is often shortened to, lived at a time when European rulers were preoccupied with making war, which was something he was good at.  He joined the Austrian army in 1784, became one of the army’s most fearless and effective field commanders, was idolized by his troops, and ended his career as a national hero.

Johann Strauss Sr. wrote the “Radetzky March” to honor the Austrian hero.  Strauss the father—not to be confused with his son who became known as the Waltz King—was a popular composer who turned out works in several forms—waltz, galop, polka, march.  To honor a military hero he chose the military form, the march.

The work debuted in 1848.  At the first performance, attending Austrian officers caught up in a patriotic fervor stomped their feet and clapped their hands.  Since then, audiences have  clapped along with the rhythm of the piece.

Heard here is a traditional performance,this one in Vienna, staged during every New Year's celebration and televised to viewers in more than 70 countries worldwide.

This is the Chinese performance  mentioned earlier in this post.  The conductor is Chen Xieyang, here leading the China National Traditional Orchestra at the Wiener Musikverein (Vienna Concert Hall) performing a Chinese New Year concert in 1998.

Besides being a concert piece the "Radetsky March" is also marched to.  I went looking for a marching video to fit in here and came up empty handed. 

Then I got sidetracked into watching and listening to the "Pizzicato Polka," by Johann Strauss Jr. and Josef Strauss.  It's performed by the same Chinese orchestra that played the "Radetzky March" above.  Not only is the polka well-played, but I like to watch the conductor pluck notes out of the air around him.

That's enough culture for today.  Thanks for stopping by.   

(A biography in the online Britannica is my source for the few words about Radetsky written here. Key words in the text can be searched to find additional sources.)

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