Dance of the Trolls: Score
By Mike Forbes
Grade: 3
Item: 98-DB1592S
$10.00
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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: 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:
FJH Concert Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1592S
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