March of the Crusaders: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Silesian Folk Song / arr. James D. Ployhar
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0001189
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Description
James D. Ployhar has transformed this hymn-tune into the march that it was originally intended to be. According to legend, this hymn was sung by German crusaders on their way to Jerusalem. Credited as a Silesian folk song, March of the Crusaders is an impressive addition to beginning band literature. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, March of the Crusaders: 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:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
65
SKU:
00-PK-0001189
More about this title
About the Arranger: James D. Ployhar
James D. Ployhar stands among the most prolific arrangers and composers in American music education, with over 800 published works to his name. His academic training spans composition study under Morris Hutchings Ruger at California State University-Long Beach, and he earned degrees from Valley City State University and Northern Colorado University. Beyond the page, Ployhar spent more than 19 years teaching in public schools while simultaneously building an international reputation as a clinician and conductor.
His influence extends far beyond the United States. He developed the Contemporary Band Course, now published by Alfred Music and translated into French and Norwegian for use throughout Scandinavia. Ployhar studied orchestration with Knud Havalde of the Danish Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and his compositions have been performed across Europe, Japan, and the Pacific Rim. The National Band Association recognized his lifetime contributions with a Citation of Excellence, and he holds membership in the American Bandmasters Association.
Why we love this
Ployhar demonstrates an intuitive gift for unlocking the march character hidden within a hymn tune. Rather than simply adapting a sacred melody, he reveals what the music was actually meant to become, giving conductors an accessible Grade 1 march with genuine narrative weight and the gravitas that comes from centuries-old source material.
What to expect
Solemn and steady, with the gravitas of a medieval procession. The hymn tune emerges as a steadfast melody, supported by a martial rhythm that feels both reverent and forward-moving, as if pilgrims are walking with both conviction and ceremony.
Who it's for
Beginning band conductors seeking literature with genuine historical roots and cultural resonance. Students benefit from playing a piece with a real story and authentic source, grounding their early march-form experience in something meaningful rather than generic.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady, processional tempo from the downbeat. Crusaders on pilgrimage should move with purpose, not hurry.
- Balance the chorale-style harmonies so the original hymn tune remains audible across the ensemble, even as the march rhythm propels it forward.
- Shape each phrase with subtle dynamics rather than sudden changes; let the forward momentum speak for itself.
- Emphasize articulation in the lower voices to anchor the march rhythm without overshadowing the melody line.
How to use it
Program this early in the season as a confidence-builder; Grade 1 difficulty means every section can contribute meaningfully from day one. It pairs well with other folk-song arrangements or sacred works on a concert emphasizing cultural connections, and works equally well as a processional opener or concert finale.
Skills your students will build
- March form and rhythmic precision in simple 4/4
- Sustained melodic phrasing within a rhythmic framework
- Part independence while maintaining harmonic clarity
- Reading standard concert-band textures with distinct instrumental roles