March of the Dwarfs: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Story's arrangement captures the essential charm of Grieg's original while giving concert band the full arc of the piece: the delicate opening sets a mood that bands rarely get to explore at this level, and the march section's building intensity satisfies the ensemble's need to play with power and precision. The ABA structure is transparent enough that students hear the form working in real time, making it ideal for conductors who want to teach architecture alongside musicality.

The piece opens with a hushed, almost magical quality, as if a parade is approaching from a distance. As the march emerges and builds, the energy grows from curiosity to spectacle, then settles back into the delicate reverie where it began, leaving the listener with a sense of something precious.

Concert bands at Grade 3 level who want accessible repertoire with genuine musical substance and clear form. This arrangement works equally well for groups preparing contest/festival submissions and for programs that value teaching moments alongside engaging performance.

• Balance the opening section carefully; the delicate character depends on restraint from the full ensemble and precision from the woodwinds. This is not a moment to play loudly.
• Shape the lyric melody through the middle section by maintaining a singing tone in the lead voice while supporting lines stay transparent. The audience should hear one clear musical line.
• Build the march section gradually, allowing dynamics to climb without rushing the tempo. The drama comes from accumulated intensity, not from hurrying.
• Listen for blend in the transition back to the opening material; this moment defines whether the form lands clearly for the audience.

This works beautifully as a contrasting centerpiece in a concert that mixes styles and moods, or as an opener that establishes the band's range and musicality early. Its modest length (3:30) makes it ideal alongside a heavier contemporary work or a traditional march, and its festival potential means it can serve dual purpose in your calendar.

• Conducting and performing transparent texture and dynamic control in delicate passage work
• Recognizing and executing ABA form with clear sectional contrast
• Building intensity gradually through a march section without accelerating
• Maintaining intonation and blend during soft, sustained passages
• Balancing multiple melodic lines to achieve harmonic clarity