Dance of the Trolls Sheet Music Preview

Dance of the Trolls: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

By Mike Forbes

Grade: 3

Item: 98-DB1592

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Description
Explore this fun and colorful work that depicts the mysterious trolls of Mount Horeb (Wisconsin) coming out at night to dance in the streets. Written as a dark, magical waltz, the music moves through a whirlwind of moods before settling into a haunting and slow lyrical section. The dance then begins once more as the music moves into an energetic and fiery ending complete with a surprising twist. A colorful work that will be a huge hit with students!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Dance of the Trolls: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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: FJH Concert Band
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU: 98-DB1592

More about this title

Why we love this

Forbes taps into a genuine Wisconsin legend and transforms it into a piece that genuinely excites student musicians. The structure moves with theatrical confidence—dark waltz, lyrical reflection, fiery return with a twist—giving conductors natural pacing points and giving students a narrative arc to follow rather than just notes on a page.

What to expect

A mischievous, shadowy story unfolding in real time. The mysterious opening draws you into a strange celebration; the lyrical middle lets you catch your breath before the trolls' revelry intensifies again, building to an ending that lands with personality and surprise.

Who it's for

Grade 3 concert bands ready to move beyond straightforward marches into programmatic writing that rewards attention to detail and sectional balance. Directors seeking a festival or contest piece that students remember and audiences enjoy will find this hits both targets.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening dark waltz with deliberate articulation; lean into the mystery without rushing the tempo or losing the dance's inherent pulse.
  • Balance the shift into the slow lyrical section by pulling back dynamic intensity while maintaining tone quality; this contrast will land harder if the first section feels genuine.
  • Build energy steadily through the return to the energetic section; the 'surprising twist' ending works only if the ensemble has momentum behind it.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece contest or festival entry where its clear structure and colorful orchestration will stand out. It also works as a programming bridge between a classical work and something more contemporary, or as a feature piece for a concert themed around folklore or regional stories.

Skills your students will build

  • Phrasing and dynamic contrast across distinct sections
  • Maintaining pulse and articulation in triple meter
  • Balancing texture and blend in programmatic storytelling
  • Responding to dramatic tempo and mood shifts
  • Sustaining melodic line through lyrical passages at Grade 3 level

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