Honorary March of Her Majesty Queen Sonja

This march was commissioned by The office of cultural affairs in Fana and Ytrebygda (a part of Bergen Municipality) for the opening of The Bergen Light Rail. The premiere was given by The Norwegian Navy Band Bergen and Smørås skolemusikk during the light rail's maiden voyage. Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway opened the light rail on June 22nd 2010.

My idéa was to give the march a strong link to Bergen. In the bass solo (letter B) I have quoted Bergen's ""national"" anthem Nystemt'n and in the Trio (letter E) I have used a bugle call from Bergen's unique tradition of archerchery brigades. The first part of the march is meant to have a sort of train feel to it; something that's moving steadily through the streets of the city.

Svein H. Giske