Quest of the Knights Templar: Score
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 1
Item: 98-DB1489S
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Description
A powerful opening characterized by darkness and mystery yields to a fast-paced musical journey as the Knights Templar prepare to vanquish their enemies in a battle during the Crusades. An excellent work for directors looking to push their percussion section without placing excessive demands on the winds.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Quest of the Knights Templar: Score 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 Beginning Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DB1489S
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers in the wind band repertoire. His works appear on contest and concert programs worldwide, and his gift for balancing musical substance with ensemble accessibility has earned him recognition from the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP.
Beyond composition, Sheldon shapes music education as the lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band and maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and commissioned composer. He has conducted his music at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center, and has brought his expertise to honor bands and universities across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2020.
Why we love this
Sheldon crafts a Grade 1 work that doesn't retreat from musical drama. The narrative arc—from mystery into urgent action—gives young players something to perform rather than merely play through, and the deliberate focus on percussion writing makes it a rare Grade 1 piece that genuinely features your battery section without overwhelming the rest of the band.
What to expect
The piece opens in shadow and tension, with sparse textures building a sense of anticipation. When the tempo accelerates into the battle sequence, energy floods the ensemble; rhythmic momentum and percussion color dominate, creating a visceral sense of action and conflict.
Who it's for
Directors of Grade 1 concert bands seeking a contest or festival selection with narrative weight and genuine pedagogical purpose. This score works especially well for programs that value percussion development and want young players to experience meaningful musical storytelling without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening darkness with dynamic restraint; resist the urge to push the quiet sections too early. The mystery lands harder when the band truly inhabits the softer dynamic.
- Balance percussion clarity with ensemble cohesion during the faster section. Ensure mallets and timpani cut through without drowning out the wind parts underneath.
- Use the narrative structure as rehearsal motivation. Frame the piece explicitly as a dramatic arc with two distinct characters, and let students own which section they're in emotionally.
How to use it
Schedule this for a concert closer that showcases what your young band can accomplish when given music with real dramatic intent. It pairs well on a program with contrasting lyrical work, as the intensity and pacing make it an excellent finale that leaves audiences engaged.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic control and voice independence in thin textures
- Rhythmic precision in fast-paced, percussion-driven sections
- Ensemble balance when featured and background parts shift
- Musical storytelling and phrasing across a dramatic arc