Johann Strauss II paid a number of visits to Pavlovsk during his career, leading many performances of his works. He ultimately became the darling of Russian nobility there, particularly of its women, whose affections he unwisely encouraged and often found necessary to flee for reasons of his safety. This march, while hardly sounding authentically Russian, does manage to convey a sense of that ethnic musical style in its catchy theme and colorful orchestration. Russicher opens with a brief introduction, after which follows the lively march theme, a hardy, boisterous creation that conjures images of colorful Russian dances and costumes. The music in the middle section is less Russian in character and, in fact, would sound quite at home in one of the composer's more Viennese works. Still, it has a sense of festivity and provides contrast to the music in the outer sections. The march returns in the latter part and the work soon ends, but not with the usual excitement: the march theme is quietly played by the low strings and the music slowly fades away. This clever piece has a duration of about four minutes.

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