Dance of the Trolls: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Mischievous and darkly whimsical. The opening waltz has an otherworldly shimmer, as if you're watching creatures emerge from the shadows. The haunting lyrical passage creates real stillness before the energy ignites again, building toward a finale that's both energetic and slightly unsettling in the best way.

Grade 3 concert bands ready for programmatic work that builds narrative and musical vocabulary simultaneously. This piece rewards bands that can shift convincingly between moods and maintain ensemble control through tempo changes and dynamic contrasts.

• Establish the waltz rhythm early in sectionals; the piece's character depends on that three-beat pulse staying supple, especially as dynamics and articulations shift around it.
• The transition into the slow lyrical section needs careful tempo management. Mark the ritardando precisely with your ensemble so the shift feels inevitable, not abrupt.
• Balance the competing melodic lines during the energetic passages. The 'fiery' final section can easily blur; isolate each voice part and make sure accompaniment remains transparent.
• Rehearse the surprise twist in context several times. When students know it's coming, they can execute it cleanly without losing the magic of the moment.

Program this as a concert centerpiece or opening. It's distinctive enough to anchor a thematic program about folklore or storytelling, and the narrative arc gives audiences something to follow. The Grade 3 level makes it accessible for younger ensembles competing at festival, where a piece with this much personality stands out.

• Shifting between distinct moods and tempos while maintaining ensemble cohesion
• Shaping phrase contours in a waltz meter across varying harmonic textures
• Balance and transparency during layered melodic passages
• Controlled dynamics across a wide range (from mysterious pianissimo to fiery forte)
• Responding to programmatic intent when interpreting musical character