Marche Slave

The Marche slave (French pronunciation: ​[/maʁʃ slav/]) in B-flat minor, Op. 31 (published as Slavonic March) or Serbo-Russian March (Serbian Cyrillic: Словенски марш / Српско-руски марш, Slovenski marsh / Srpsko-ruski marsh, Russian: Славя́нский марш / Сербско-русский марш, Slavyanskiy marsh / Serbsko-russkiy marsh) or Slavic March is an orchestral tone poem by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky published in October 1876.

In June 1876, Serbia and the Ottoman Empire were engaged in the Serbo-Turkish War (1876–78). Russia openly supported Serbia. The Russian Musical Society commissioned an orchestral piece from Tchaikovsky for a concert in aid of the Red Cross Society, and ultimately for the benefit of wounded Serbian veterans. Many Russians sympathized with their fellow Slavs and Orthodox Christians and sent volunteer soldiers and aid to assist Serbia.

Tchaikovsky referred to the piece as his "Serbo-Russian March" while writing it. It was premiered in Moscow on November 17 [O.S. November 5] 1876, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein.

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