More on the Turkish March

David B. Levy, a music professor at Wake Forest, has another take on the "Turkish March," one that is based on a close reading of the words. His letter to the Times is worth reading, but here's the key part:

"In my book Beethoven: The Ninth Symphony, I argue that the so-called 'Turkish march' is the first step toward a rapprochement between West and East, the culmination of which is achieved in the finale’s second double fugue.

"A close reading of Schiller’s words reveals that the 'Turkish march' is a paraphrase of the portion of Psalm 19 that refers to a metaphorical wedding procession. The bride and groom are the Occident and the Orient. "

Here's the relevant passage from the King James version of Psalm 19 (courtesy of Bartleby):

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

The imagery suggests that the sun, representing the east (since that is where it rises), is akin to a bridegroom, or a champion about to run his course (in this case, its course through the heavens).

Levy's gloss certainly fits in with the spirit of Schiller's poem and Beethoven's music, to encompass polarities, break the bonds of custom, and proclaim a true brotherhood of man.