Nightride: Percussion 2
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 3.5
Item: 98-PC-DB1850_PC2
$7.00
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Description
This impressive composition includes expressive moments that range from menacing to tender, aggressive to introspective, and capricious to heroic. The multi-meter high-speed romp in the opening Allegro yields to a heartfelt, lyrical Adagio before returning to variations of the initial theme that culminate in a raucous conclusion. Everyone has melodic moments and the percussion section certainly has opportunities to shine.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Nightride: Percussion 2 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-PC-DB1850_PC2
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers in the wind band repertoire today. His works appear on contest and festival programs internationally, and his distinctive musical voice has earned him recognition from the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Beyond composition, Sheldon shaped music education through his work as lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band.
Sheldon's career as a clinician and guest conductor spans the globe. He has led All-State and Regional Honor Bands across the United States and abroad, presenting at universities and state music education conferences in Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. His compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Boston Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2020.
Why we love this
Sheldon writes with remarkable range: every section gets a moment to lead, from woodwind passages to brass fireworks to percussion that demands musicality beyond timekeeping. The structural arc here is masterful, pivoting from breakneck speed to genuine lyrical warmth and back again, which makes for compelling listening and keeps student musicians engaged throughout rehearsal and performance.
What to expect
Nightride gallops forward with menace and vitality, pulling you into a landscape that shifts from shadowy and aggressive to unexpectedly tender. The sudden Adagio arrival feels like stepping from darkness into a moment of reflection, intimate and introspective, before the pace surges again with even greater urgency and exhilaration.
Who it's for
Concert bands at Grade 3.5 level with solid technical chops and the stamina for a piece that demands energy and contrast. The work suits ensembles comfortable with multiple meter changes and conductors seeking a contest or festival vehicle that showcases the full band with real musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a clear pulse in the opening Allegro before rehearsing the multi-meter passages; once the foundation is solid, the rhythmic complexity becomes navigable rather than overwhelming.
- Shape the Adagio with genuine phrase direction. This section's expressive payoff depends on restraint and control in the fast material that precedes it.
- Balance the percussion throughout so that each section's contributions read clearly. The parts are written to be heard, not to decorate the main lines.
- Bring intensity to the final variation and raucous conclusion without sacrificing precision. Sheldon's orchestration here is lean and direct; ensemble clarity matters as much as volume.
How to use it
This piece fits a contest or festival program where you need to demonstrate technical facility, musical maturity, and ensemble balance in one package. It also works well on a concert that pairs it with contrasting repertoire; the emotional range within Nightride means it can anchor a program or serve as an exciting centerpiece.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing multiple meter signatures in a continuous fast section
- Shaping lyrical phrasing in the Adagio with control and expression
- Balancing melodic responsibility across all sections, including typically supporting parts
- Responding to large-scale structural contrasts and sudden tempo/character shifts
- Executing accurate articulation and dynamic control at fast tempos