Halvorsen: Entrance March of the Boyars

Entrance March of the Boyars

Johan Halvorsen (1864-1935)

Johan Halvorsen was a Norwegian musician of modest reputation, who made his name as a conductor and as composer of theatre pieces and colorful orchestral works written in the Romantic tradition of Edvard Grieg and other late 19^th century Scandinavian composers. He is another of those little-known composers who lay a small claim to fame with a single attractive work, this being the “Entrance March of the Boyars” (1895). It is his best-known composition, written as incidental music to a stage play (presumably one set in imperial Russia, judging by the title). It is a brilliantly-orchestrated march with the sort of exotic textures which meant to evoke a somewhat “oriental” atmosphere, with Trio section featuring brilliant brass fanfares.

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