Alexander Glazunov wrote his eight-minute Triumphal March (1892) for the World's Columbian Exposition, a celebration (held in Chicago) of the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage of America. The work's "march" qualities are underpinned by Glazunov's use of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" throughout. Still, much of the music has a strangely pastoral, even English quality—Glazunov's nod, perhaps, to the European origins of many American citizens. Glazunov employs a wordless chorus as part of the performing forces in order to celebrate, as he noted, the "dawn of liberty." In all, the Triumphal March is a fascinating character sketch with multi-nationalistic overtones: John Brown meets John Bull and John Field.

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