Music notes #9

Under the Double Eagle

This march was written in 1893 by Austrian composer Josef Franz Wagner (no relation to Richard Wagner, who wrote Ride of the Valkyries). The "Double Eagle," refers to the emblem of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, born out of the dual monarchy compromise.

In the 19th century, Austria controlled a lot of present day Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and other states in the Balkans. Hungary in particular was not happy with living under Austrian control and had tried to gain independence in a revolt in 1848. That revolt was quashed, but in the following decades, Austria lost two separate wars with Italy and Prussia. The likelihood of Austria maintaining unitary dominance with a defeated and demoralized military and mounting debt was very small. Rather than wait for another revolt they might not be able to suppress, a compromise with the Hungarian nobility was negotiated. The result was the Dual Monarchy Compromise of 1867, which established a separate government for Hungary united with Austria's under the same Monarch. This lasted until 1918, when Austro-Hungary was on the losing side of WWI and its territory was split into multiple nations in the peace.

This is one of the most popular marches of all time. It is still played by marching bands the world over at all levels of talent from high school to formal military. It's so iconic, Kill La Kill itself used it and even refers to it by name. So... I had to use it, with an icon from that very scene.

Here is the full march: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AwIWi6r0p4

Here is its appearance in Kill La Kill (featuring Nonon): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuvzIG5hwBU