Laine: Santahamina Cadets

Santahamina Cadets is one of the composer's best marches. The brass-laden themes and expressive woodwind patterns give the march an aural experience. This has been performed numerous times, for example, at guard parades in Helsinki. The name comes from Santahamina, Helsinki, where cadets from the cadet school study for an officer's career. Teuvo Laine (1930-1996) was a military musician and conductor. He began his career as a student of the Navy Band in 1944. He worked as a military bandleader from 1948-1960, and after completing his conducting degree, he led orchestras from 1960-1984. He retired from the position of Chief Conductor of the Defence Forces (1984-1990). The total number of Laine's compositions and arrangements is enormous.