The Persischer Marsch (Persian March), Op. 289, is an orchestral work composed by Johann Strauss II in 1864. It was written during the composer's annual summer concert residency in Pavlovsk, Russia, and was first performed there in the autumn of that year.
The composition was dedicated to Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, the Shah of Persia, who ruled from 1848 to 1896. In appreciation of the dedication, the Shah decorated Strauss with the Persian Order of the Lion and the Sun. The march gained significant popularity in Vienna following its local premiere later in 1864 and eventually became one of Strauss’s most enduring orchestral works.
Musically, the Persischer Marsch is characterized by its use of "Orientalist" tropes common in 19th-century European classical music. These stylistic elements include specific rhythmic structures and melodic intervals intended to evoke a Middle Eastern atmosphere for Western audiences, though the work does not incorporate authentic Persian folk music or traditional melodies. Structurally, it follows the standard form of a military-style march but is intended for concert performance rather than functional marching.
The piece remains a staple of the Strauss family repertoire and is frequently included in performances of light classical music, most notably the Vienna New Year's Concert.