Homage March (from the incidental music to Sigurd Jorsalfar): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

This arrangement captures something rare: a march that grows more interesting the more you listen to it. The architecture moves fluidly between brilliant fanfare and genuine lyric singing, giving every section moments to shine. At Grade 3, it delivers the sound of something far more sophisticated, which means your students will feel proud of what they're producing, and your audience will hear an ensemble that's genuinely musicianly.

A procession that occasionally breaks into jubilation. The piece carries stately march character but never feels march-bound; instead, it unfolds as a musical journey with moments of intimate lyricism, bright fanfare, and pastoral reflection woven together. The harmonic language is warm and Romantic without ever becoming saccharine, and the rhythmic energy keeps things moving forward even in its gentler moments.

String orchestras at Grade 3 and above who want to program something celebratory and musically substantial. This arrangement works beautifully for ensembles looking to move beyond typical graduation fare while still marking the occasion with dignity and festive character. Directors seeking a piece that challenges intonation and dynamic expression while remaining manageable from a technical standpoint will find it rewarding.

• Balance the fanfare sections so brass-like articulations in the strings cut through without overshadowing the lyric lines that follow. Grieg's strength is contrast, so let each section breathe differently.
• Prepare your string sections for the required shifting (Violin 1, Cello, Bass) well in advance of rehearsals. Mark shift points clearly and give students time to practice those transitions at slow tempos before bringing them into full context.
• Shape the pastoral moments with genuine legato and careful attention to phrase direction. These sections reveal the lyrical side of the piece and give listeners a chance to absorb Grieg's harmonic richness.
• Lock down rhythmic clarity in the march sections by subdividing in rehearsal, especially where the different sections enter or shift rhythmic figures. The 6-minute duration means precision keeps the narrative arc alive.

Graduation concerts obviously invite this piece, but it also serves as a strong closer for spring concerts or festival programs where you want to leave audiences with something uplifting and substantial. Programming it alongside other Romantic-era masterwork arrangements creates a cohesive concert identity while the 6-minute duration gives you flexibility in pacing a full program.

• Required and optional shifting across multiple string sections
• Dynamic contrast and expressive bowing across fanfare, march, and lyric sections
• Intonation accuracy in sustained harmonies and chord changes
• Rhythmic clarity and ensemble precision in marchlike patterns
• Phrasing and line direction in extended lyrical passages
• Sectional balance and blend across multiple textural shifts