Entry of the Pendragon: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Medieval and Renaissance fair music transported to the concert stage. The modal harmonies have an ancient, wandering quality that feels both mysterious and accessible, while the rhythmic variety between sections keeps young players engaged and alert.

Beginning concert bands ready to move beyond simple chorale arrangements into actual composed repertoire. Grade 1 students with 6-8 weeks of rehearsal experience will have the technical skills to execute this piece successfully while engaging with Renaissance-inspired harmonies and mixed meter.

• Balance the modal melody across your woodwind section; the unfamiliar harmonic language will feel more confident if the line is clear and supported by consistent articulation.
• The 3/4 section contrasts sharply with the opening common time. Mark the tempo relationship clearly in rehearsal and give your students time to feel the meter shift.
• Let your percussion section shine during their independent passages. Young players thrive when they hear their own rhythmic figures matter to the overall sound.
• Shape the piece with dynamic contrast rather than speed changes. Beginning ensembles often rush modal music, so hold the tempo steady and use crescendos and decrescendos to build interest.

Open a family concert or school assembly with this piece to establish a thoughtful, artistic tone. Its modest length and strong character make it equally effective as a novelty opener or as a palate cleanser between heavier Grade 1-2 works in a longer program.

• Reading modal harmony and non-traditional harmonic progressions
• Switching between 4/4 and 3/4 meter and maintaining pulse during metric changes
• Executing independent percussion parts with rhythmic confidence
• Sustaining tone quality in legato melodic passages
• Responding to dynamic shaping as a primary expressive tool