Preobrazhensky Regiment March
The March of the Preobrazhensky Life-Guard Regiment (Russian: Марш Лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка) (AM I, 30), also known as the March of Peter the Great or simply the Russian March, is one of the most famous Russian military marches.[1] The Preobrazhensky Life-Guards Regiment was one of the oldest and most elite guard regiments of the Imperial Russian Army.
Today the march is still used by the modern Russian Armed Forces, in particular the recreated 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment, most notably in the annual Victory Day Parade during inspection. It is also the slow march of the British Royal Marines, awarded by Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Mountbatten of Burma on the occasion of the Corps' tercentenary in 1964.
Usage
Russian Empire
The march was used as an unofficial national anthem in early imperial times.[2]
Modern Russia
The March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment was often used in modern Russia, particularly in the annual Victory Day Parade for the trooping of the colours (Flag of Russia and Banner of Victory), notably at the 2005 Victory Day Parade. However, from 2010, The Sacred War has been played instead, for only the trooping of flags.[3] The March is only played during the parades' inspection segment.
The March is not believed to have been officially used in the Soviet Union much, but it was played by Soviet military bands in concerts and sometimes during the inspection segment of parades, notably during the 1990 Moscow Victory Day Parade.[4]
United Kingdom
The March has been used as the slow march of the Royal Marines in the arrangement of Francis Vivian Dunn.[5][1] It was awarded to them by Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma on the occasion of the Corps's tercentenary in 1964.
Other uses
Before World War I, the work was used as the presentation march (German: Präsentiermarsch) in several military formations in Prussia.[1] It was used in 1969 as the opening credits of The Life and Times of Lord Mountbatten.
Origin
Neither the composer nor the date of The March's composition is known. Judging from an old title of the march, March of Peter the Great, it was perhaps written during Peter the Great's reign. Some European scholars have suggested Swedish authorship, but there is no evidence to support this claim. In German sources, the name of Ferdinand Haase (1788—1851) is mentioned. Haase indeed worked in Russia in the 19th century, and he wrote the second Marsch des Leib-Garde Preobraschenski Regiments.[1] Some English sources, when referring to the arrangement of the march for the Royal Marines, erroneously give the name of the composer as Donajowsky.[5] Francis Vivian Dunn, and early 20th Century British copies of the march, mistakenly attributed it to an Ernest Donajowski, who was in fact involved in the sheet music publishing business, and was not a composer.[6]
Several lyrics are known for the march.[4]
Lyrics
Napoleonic Wars
During the area of Peter the Great, the march, like most of its contemporaries was performed without vocals. In 1805 a set of vocals were introduced by Sergey Marin, who went from ensign of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, to the aide-de-camp of Alexander I.[7][8] The words were written under the title "Let's go abroad brothers, beat the enemies of the Fatherland."[9]
| Russian original | English translation |
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Mid 19th century
In the second half of the 19th century, the march was often performed to the following words under the title of "How Glorious were our forefathers, or The Turks and Swedes know us."[10] Due to the marches close association with the Emperor, it was always performed on solemn occasions such as military parades or other events of imperial importance, gaining a status as an unofficial national anthem.[11][2]
| Russian original | English translation |
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References
- ^ a b c d "История марша Лейб-Гвардии Преображенского полка", reprinted from the article Агафонов Н., Петров Ф. "Марш лейб-гвардии Преображенского полка", Оркестр, 2007
- ^ a b "National Anthem | Russia's State Symbols". En.rian.ru. RIA Novosti. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
- ^ "Russian Army Parade, Victory Day 2010 Парад Победы". youtube.com (in Russian). 2016-05-15.
- ^ a b "Russian Anthems museum". Hymn.ru. 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "The Regimental Marches of Her Majesty's Royal Marines:A Life on the Ocean Wave Regimental Quick March". Royalmarinesbands.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
- ^ Tony Dean, "Mistaken Attributions: The Preobrajensky March", IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal, No. 112, Summer 2017, p. 13 (retrieved January 31, 2020)
- ^ "Преображенский марш (Марин) — Викитека". ru.wikisource.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ^ "Неизв. автор, С. Марин - Преображенский марш (вариант наполеоновских войн)". a-pesni.org. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ^ "Преображенский марш". lk.vrnlib.ru. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ^ "Преображенский марш (солдатская песня) — Викитека". ru.wikisource.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ^ "Оркестры духовых музыкальных инструментов в истории России". КиберЛенинка. Retrieved 2026-06-03.