Quickstep (march music)

The slower tempo of the standard march makes it ideal for executing military exercises, reviews and parades.

The first extant quickstep music is from 17th-century France with several French pas redoublé being commissioned and written down for use by the military bands of Louis XIV; including quick marches by Jean-Baptiste Lully and André Danican Philidor the elder.

[4] An 1875 article in English Mechanic and World of Science gives the following description:[5] The military quickstep is formed according to certain strict rules which need not be observed by ordinary arrangers it will suffice for them to remember that it is divided into two portions an "initial march" and a "trio".

The former consists of two or three strains in two four or six eight time each of which may be repeated according to the required length of the march the latter of a smoothly flowing melody in key of the subdominant.

It may be made a solo for cornet or euphonion, a duet for cornet and tenor or it may be harmonised as a concerted piece for the principal instruments with a staccato accompaniment for the subordinates.See Ternary form § Compound ternary or trio form for the explanation of the term "trio" in this context.