Shadow of the Longship: Concert Band Conductor Score

$13.00 USD

Shadow of the Longship: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Shadow of the Longship: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-B1698S
Price: 13.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Eric Rath

Grade: 1.5

Item: 98-B1698S

$13.00

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One moment…

Aggressive and powerful, this work captures the strength & intimidation of the fabled Norse vessels. Strong melodies and percussive punctuation give way to a floating middle section that harkens back to the warrior’s longing for home. A wonderful chance to show a range of expression while entertaining your concert audience.

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Series: FJH Developing Band

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444519790

SKU: 98-B1698S

More about this title

About the Composer: Eric Rath

Eric Rath brings twenty years of classroom experience and active performance credentials to his work as a composer and arranger. A percussionist with deep roots in both concert and vernacular music, he has taught band and orchestra at the middle and high school levels, adjudicated at regional and national festivals, and maintained a freelance performance schedule that includes the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra and Amarillo Opera. His published catalog spans four major music publishers and has been heard at the Midwest Clinic, state conventions, and international conferences.

Rath's approach to composition reflects his dual identity as educator and performer. He co-authored pedagogical percussion resources including the "Five Minute Drill" and "Nine Minute Drill" series, and continues to serve the music education community through clinician work and his involvement with the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. He holds degrees from West Texas A&M University in both music education and arts, and is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

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Why we love this

Rath creates music that gives young conductors something substantial to shape. The piece opens with genuine power, demands control from the ensemble, and then pivots into introspection, letting your band demonstrate emotional range without requiring advanced technical chops. At grade 1.5, this is a rare opportunity to program something with real concert appeal and thematic depth.

What to expect

Storm and silence, muscle and yearning. The piece begins as narrative sound design, all percussion and forward motion, then opens into a quieter passage that suggests wind, distance, and the internal lives of seafarers. The contrast makes both sections more vivid.

Who it's for

Directors of developing concert bands who want to program beyond "first year" repertoire without asking their students to read complex rhythms or high ranges. This works equally well for a grade 1.5 band that's ready for expressive challenges or a stronger band that needs a confident opener for a festival program.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening melodies with deliberate dynamics; the strength of a longship comes from unity and conviction, not velocity. Use the forte passages to cement the aggressive character, then pull back cleanly into the contrasting middle section.
Balance the percussion punctuation so it drives the rhythm without burying the melodic content. These hits are architectural, not decorative.
Build the transition into the middle section as a genuine moment of reflection. Drop the tempo slightly in your conducting and let the band sense the shift from raid to remembrance.
Return to the opening material with renewed intensity after the floating section. This recall should feel inevitable and powerful.

How to use it

Open a concert with this to establish energy and capture immediate attention, then follow with contrasting repertoire. Its grade 1.5 accessibility makes it ideal for festival rotations where you want to present a polished, complete program without over-programming rehearsal time.