Ride of the Valkyries: 2nd B-flat Cornet

Mark Williams captures the raw orchestral power of this iconic Wagner moment and translates it brilliantly for the intermediate band ensemble. The arrangement respects the original's dramatic sweep while giving your brass section a showstopping melodic role and your woodwinds genuinely interesting rhythmic and textural work. This is the kind of piece that reminds your students and audience why they love concert band.

This is orchestral spectacle brought within reach of the intermediate band. The famous melody charges forward with Germanic swagger and operatic grandeur, while underneath it surges a relentless rhythmic undercurrent that propels the music toward climactic moments of tremendous impact.

This arrangement suits bands with solid fundamental musicianship but still developing technical facility. Your brass section needs confidence with sustained melodic playing and clean attacks, while your woodwinds benefit from adequate facility with ornamental figures but don't need virtuosic agility.

• Balance the brass melody so it sings clearly over the driving accompaniment in the lower voices; the tune should feel heroic, not buried.
• Shape the flute and clarinet trills with precision and consistent tone quality; they drive the harmonic tension and need to sparkle without sounding thin.
• Build the dynamic intensity gradually through repetitions of the main idea rather than jumping immediately to full fortissimo; let the excitement grow organically.
• Lock the ensemble on the triplet figures and rhythmic patterns; clarity here prevents the texture from becoming muddy as the arrangement thickens.

Place this near the finale of a concert where you want to leave a lasting impression. It pairs well with other Romantic or Wagner-inspired works and gives your band a chance to show range beyond traditional band repertoire. The substantial page count and concert/festival designation also make it a natural choice for a full-length spring concert or adjudicated festival performance.

• Sustaining lyrical melodic lines over extended phrases
• Blending brass choir sound while maintaining melodic clarity
• Playing ornamental figures (trills, triplet patterns) with rhythmic precision
• Shaping dynamic intensity across an entire section rather than isolated climaxes
• Balancing texture when multiple rhythmic layers exist simultaneously