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martial music

martial music

1 4.7
Lively music with a strong beat played for soldiers marching or military parades
  • noun
  • /ˈmɑrʃəl ˈmjuːzɪk/
translation icon : música marcial
  • All students were required to play at least two instruments and in a variety of styles such as symphonic works, patriotic pieces, martial music, Americana, and jazz.
  • play martial music

Examples

  • The band played martial music to inspire the soldiers during their parade.

  • I do so hate martial music.

  • Punctually at seven, the Trinkhalle band began to play martial music.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • A roar of cheers and martial music greets the President as he disappears inside.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • As the troops marched through the streets, the lively martial music filled the air.

  • At the start of the event, the crowd was energized by the powerful martial music played by the military band.

Synonyms

march
vsmartial music
  • Specialized
8 3.2

A piece of music with a strong, steady beat for bands

is mainly used for accompaniment of troops and formal parades
marching music
vsmartial music
1 3.7

Music with a strong regular beat played by bands for parades

is aimed specifically at supporting troops and parade movements
military music
vsmartial music
3.9

Brisk rhythmic music played by bands for soldiers to march or at ceremonies

focuses more on works written specifically to accompany troops on parade
military march
vsmartial music
3.9

Brisk music with a steady beat that helps soldiers walk together in parades

is a broader term for brisk accompaniment used with troops and parades
processional march
vsmartial music
  • Formal
6.3

Music with a steady marching beat played during a formal procession

is more tied to troops than to general ceremonial movement

How Brisk

martial music
1 4.7
fanfare
12 5.3
anthem
109 3.5
dirge
8 8.2

Surface Forms

martial music singular

Morphology

martial + music

The meaning 'brisk, rhythmic music for marching troops' is directly and compositionally built from 'martial' (military) + 'music' (organized sounds), so a learner who knows both words will infer 'military music' or 'music for the military'. This adjective+noun pattern is a standard, transparent compositional structure and is cross-linguistically common, making the MWE readily comprehensible to B1 learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

The noun martial music comes from the image of soldiers marching to strong drums and brass instruments. The word martial means 'soldiers' and the steady beat of music keeps them in step, so martial music means music for marching or military ceremonies.