Erkki Melartin

Festval March

Erkki Melartin (1875 -1937) was a Finnish composer. Although Melartin was chiefly a lyricist, the symphony was central to his musical output. He wrote six symphonies and was the first Finnish composer to bear Mahler's influence. His musical output also includes an opera, 'Aino' (based on the character from the Finnish national epic), a violin concerto, four string quartets, and many piano pieces. Despite working in the same time period as Jean Sibelius he was not influenced by the more famous composer's style, and his work has been largely overshadowed by that of Finland's most revered composer.
In 1904 Melartin composed music for the ballet 'Prinsessa Ruusunen' ('Sleeping Beauty'). The 'Juhlamarssi' (Festival March) from this ballet is the most popular wedding march in Finland. Dutch arranger Marc Koninkx transcribed this march now for Symphonic Band.