Victor Widqvist: Sverige på vakt: (Arr. Niclas Blixt): Marching Band

Sweden On Guard is part of Widkvist's earliest march production. It was composed around 1914 when he served in the engineering troops. It is worth noting that the march from the beginning was probably intended for a small sized brass band and was later rearranged for a full military band by the composer. When I searched in the Swedish War Archives many years ago, looking for more or less forgotten marches, this work, among others, appeared. I immediately became attached to the young Widkvist's catchy melodies and clear harmonic tonal language that express faith in the future and optimism. Sweden On Guard has never been published in print before, and the work of modernizing the setting without resorting to the elegance and resilience of the original has been a challenge. - Niclas Blixt