Rákóczi March

The Rákóczi -Marsch ( ungar: Rákóczi induló ) is a Hungarian national anthem and an unofficial anthem of Hungary.

A first version of the marching song was probably made around 1730 as the work of one or more anonymous author, although it should have been the traditional with the favorite march of Francis Rákóczi II ( 1676-1735 ). This early version, the Rákóczi nótas ( Rákóczi - song), was a lamentation, weeping for the misfortune of the Magyars and the oppression by the Habsburgs. The song implored Francis II Rákóczi to return to save his people. It was very popular in the 18th century in Hungary, but was overtaken in the 19th century by the more sophisticated Rákóczi -Marsch.

The Rákóczi nótas was one of the highlights of the poetry of kuruc. It quickly evolved into a popular song, of which more than 20 versions have survived, and was sung even after the fall of the revolution of 1848. It served as poets Sándor Petőfi, Ferenc Kolcsey and Kálmán Thaly as inspiration.

The Rákóczi march was played by János Bihari already 1809-1820. Hector Berlioz took a handling of the March 1846 in his dramatic legend La damnation de Faust, Op 24 and transferred the plot of the first part of this work to specifically in the Hungarian Puszta. Franz Liszt wrote a number of arrangements, including his Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15, which is based on this theme. Other finishes are the Members of Johannes Brahms, Ferenc Erkel and Richard Franck (Suite Op 30). Pianist Vladimir Horowitz has composed its own variation on the Rákóczi March, which is based on the works of Liszt.

The text to the marching song was written towards the end of the 19th century and has little literary quality. Nowadays, the march is listed purely instrumental in the rule. The version of Berlioz became a popular piece of Hungarian folk music, especially at weddings. Today, the Rákóczi - march is often played at state and military celebrations.

Rakoczy Marsch ( 1933) is also the title of an Austro-Hungarian feature film by Gustav Fröhlich.