Low-brow, Middle-brow and High-brow Military Marches

Any example of culture can be given a brow classification. In this case, I'm not making a value judgment. Different brow levels serve different functions.

Low-brow military marches are simple cadences are typically used to teach recruits the basics of marching in unison by drill instructors. They may involve a simple call-reply pattern in lyrics. Their rhythms are purposefully extremely simple and easy to follow. The lyrics are typically crass.

Here's a prime example:

Middle-brow military marches are much more sophisticated musically but still very accessible and anyone can sing them and remember the lyrics.

Here's a good example. Here's Panzer rollen in Afrika vor or Panzerlied. It's got layered harmonies, counter-melodies in the brass, rhythmic interplay in percussion. Accessible but there seems to enough going on to make it interesting to listen to.

Another middle-brow classic is Gunkan Kōshinkyoku. It's musically not trivial but still very accessible. This song was composed in 1897 by Tokichi Setoguchi. It was heavily influenced by Western march music but is recognizably very Japanese. The lyrics speak of dying for the Emperor in a very unembellished and matter-of-factly manner (rotting on the ground is mentioned if one dies on land). Dignified resignation in the spirit of bushido.

High-brow military marches are usually sophisticated works made for the symphony orchestra or for parades with dignitaries present.

Here's Beethoven's Yorckscher March:

Strauss' Radetzky March: