Johan Halvorsen was born in Drammen, Norway, on March 15, 1864. After
attending the Stockholm Conservatory he studied the violin with Adolf
Brodsky in Leipzig and César Thomson in Belgium. In 1892 he returned to
his native land. For many years he was the distinguished conductor of
the Oslo National Theater. His admiration of Grieg (whose niece he
married) directed him toward musical nationalism, a style in which many
of his most ambitious works were written. He was the composer of three
symphonies, two rhapsodies, a festival overture, several suites, and a
number of peasant dances all for orchestra. He died in Oslo on December
4, 1935.
The _Andante religioso_, in G minor, for violin and orchestra, is a
richly melodious and spiritual work which has gained recognition with
semi-classical orchestras. But Halvorsen’s most popular composition is
the _Triumphant Entry of the Boyars_, for orchestra. The boyar or boyard
was a military aristocrat of ancient Russia, a tyrant as notorious for
his cruelty as for his extravagant way of life. Halvorsen’s vigorous,
colorful march has an Oriental personality. It opens with a stirring
march subject for clarinet against a drone bass in cellos and double
basses, and it highlights a fanfare for trumpets and trombones.