program notes by composition > M > March of the Toys/Toyland
March of the Toys/Toyland
Victor Herbert/arr. Tom Wallace
March of the Toys is from the operetta “Babes in Toyland” which wove together various characters from Mother Goose nursery rhymes into a Christmas-themed musical extravaganza. The original production opened at the Chicago Grand Opera house in 1903. The creators wanted to cash in on the extraordinary success of The Wizard of Oz, which was produced in New York earlier that year. Toys was so popular that it spawned other "fairy-tale" shows over the next decade. It has enjoyed many successful tours and revivals.
Victor Herbert (1859-1924) was an Irish-born American composer, conductor and cellist whose works include operas, musicals, compositions for orchestra, band and solo instruments. He was co-founder of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).
Last updated on July 6, 2013 by Palatine Concert Band