A Knight's Tale: Score
By Carl Strommen
Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)
Item: 00-PR-0002894
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Description
Images of a procession of the Knights of the Roundtable are brought to mind with the opening fanfare of A Knight's Tale. As the piece progresses, the story of chivalry, battle, camaraderie, and the essence of knighthood unfold.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Knight's Tale: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PR-0002894
More about this title
About the Composer: Carl Strommen
Carl Strommen has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger whose work spans concert bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, and choral settings. His music appears regularly in performance spaces, broadcast media, and film soundtracks, and he maintains a steady schedule as both a clinician and commissioned composer. His consistent recognition through the ASCAP Standard Writers Award reflects the breadth and depth of his catalog.
Strommen studied composition at City College of New York and has remained connected to music education as an adjunct professor of orchestration and composition at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. He and his family are based on Long Island, with regular ties to Colorado.
Why we love this
This piece delivers genuine dramatic arc without requiring advanced technique, making it ideal for developing bands ready to move beyond purely technical exercises. The fanfare opening and programmatic unfolding keep student musicians engaged with a clear musical narrative, while the Grade 2 level ensures accessibility across your section balances.
What to expect
A Knight's Tale unfolds like a storybook told in sound. The ceremonial opening conjures images of pageantry and honor, while subsequent sections shift through moments of tension, solidarity among companions, and the weight of noble purpose. The writing captures both the grandeur and the human heart at the center of the legend.
Who it's for
This work suits developing concert bands and young symphonic orchestras that have mastered fundamental rhythmic reading and are ready for music with structural sophistication. Conductors managing groups at the Grade 2 level will find a piece that challenges musicality and ensemble balance without overwhelming instrumental technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening fanfare with crisp articulation in the brass section to establish the regal character immediately; it sets the entire piece's tone.
- Let the band breathe during transitions between scenes of the story; resist the urge to push through; silence and space can be as powerful as sound.
- Balance the inner voices during harmonic passages so the choral texture remains transparent; this prevents the band from sounding muddy at dynamic peaks.
- Work section rehearsals on the battle segment separately; its rhythmic complexity demands precision even at this grade level.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece that gives your audience a complete dramatic experience within a single piece. It pairs well on spring or festival concerts where you want to showcase developing musicianship with a story your community can follow without a program note.
Skills your students will build
- Conducting cues and ensemble response to conductor gesture
- Dynamic control across sustained passages
- Brass articulation clarity in fanfare textures
- Transitional phrasing between contrasting sections
- Inner voice independence in four-part harmonic writing