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Passage of Arms: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

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Passage of Arms: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Invocation and Joust

By Jack Wilds

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-B1561

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Description
Opening with a sense of solemn reverence and anticipation, this highly energetic work takes place in France during the Middle Ages. As a knight sets up camp in front of a bridge, the battles begin when other knights try to gain passage. Driving rhythms represent the energy of battle while a wide array of percussion mimics the clash of distant swords and battle cries. Eventually, both themes are juxtaposed before a final victorious statement emerges. Intense!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Passage of Arms: 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: FJH Developing Band
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
UPC: 674398231775
SKU: 98-B1561

More about this title

About the Composer: Jack Wilds

Jack Wilds

Jack Wilds composes for ensembles across the entire musical spectrum, from children's choirs to professional chamber groups and collegiate wind ensembles. His work draws inspiration from visual art, philosophical texts, poetry, and pure musical language, creating pieces that challenge and engage performers at every level while maintaining artistic integrity. Chamber works by Wilds have been performed by the Attacca Quartet, members of the New York Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony, and ensembles at the International Trombone Festival, the American Trombone Workshop, and the International Horn Symposium.

A former public school band director, Wilds has published over 40 works for developing wind and choral musicians. His compositions regularly appear on festival required repertoire lists across multiple continents and have been heard at the Midwest Clinic and educator conferences nationwide. He serves as a lecturer at Texas State University teaching composition, theory, ear training, and music technology, while also serving as Co-Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in San Marcos. Wilds studies composition with Michael Ippolito, Chris Trapani, and Donald Grantham.

Why we love this

Wilds crafts a narrative that Grade 1.5 bands can actually execute musically rather than just technically. The medieval battle premise frames energetic writing without requiring advanced facility, and the contrasting solemn opening gives young musicians a chance to demonstrate control and expression before the intensity builds. Contest or concert programming becomes memorable when the story unfolds clearly through the orchestra.

What to expect

The piece opens with quiet anticipation and respect, as if witnessing something sacred. Then energy floods in; rhythmic drive and percussion color paint medieval chaos and combat. The final section sweeps past all that turbulence with a clear, victorious statement.

Who it's for

Grade 1.5 concert bands seeking programmatic music that delivers musical substance without overreaching technically. Directors preparing for festivals or concerts will appreciate a piece that captures audience attention while remaining accessible to developing ensembles.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the opening reverent section by having the ensemble breathe together; resist the urge to rush into the driving rhythms that follow.
  • Isolate the percussion writing in sectional rehearsals so that sword clashes and battle cries land with clarity rather than muddiness.
  • Work the juxtaposition section carefully, making sure both themes remain distinct when layered; this is where the conductor's precision matters most.
  • Shape the final victorious statement with a clear dynamic arc; the intensity should peak, not plateau.

How to use it

Program this as an opener or closer on a concert that needs dramatic contrast with quieter works. The narrative arc and energetic finale make it an effective festival selection where judges and audiences respond to storytelling. At Grade 1.5, it also works well as a capstone piece for mid-season rehearsals when fundamentals are solid enough to support expressive contrasts.

Skills your students will build

  • Dynamic control across contrasting sections (solemn to intense to victorious)
  • Rhythmic precision in driving, syncopated passages
  • Listening to and balancing complex percussion textures
  • Ensemble cohesion through thematic layering and juxtaposition
  • Musical phrasing and shaping in a narrative context

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