Introduce or reinforce 6/8 time while portraying the Viking conquests! Using minimal rhythmic motivic material, Tale of the Sword by Tyler S. Grant creates an epic and cinematic soundscape. Students get to create the sounds of ocean waves as driving ostinatos propel listeners to dramatic musical scenes. Supplemental Rhythm & Melody Sheets are included to make the most of your students' journey into 6/8. Intense and extremely engaging! Recorded by the Atlanta Wind Symphony. (3:00)
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Tyler S. Grant has built a reputation as a composer and arranger whose music appears regularly on state and regional honor ensemble programs nationwide. His works have been commissioned and performed at significant venues including Carnegie Hall, The Midwest Clinic, and the Meyerson Symphony Center, with performances spanning collegiate and professional ensembles across North America. His composition Panoramic Fanfare won the Dallas Wind Symphony's 2014 "Call for Fanfares" Competition and has become a staple in the wind band repertoire.
Beyond composing, Grant maintains an active schedule as a clinician and conductor, having worked with over 100 school instrumental music programs across 15 states. He holds a bachelor's degree in instrumental music education from the University of Alabama, where he studied conducting with Professor Randall Coleman. Grant has contributed to Alfred Music's Sound Innovations series and regularly publishes new works for bands and orchestras each year.
Why we love this
Grant's approach to introducing 6/8 time sidesteps tedious counting exercises by embedding the meter in a narrative that students genuinely want to play. The ocean-wave ostinatos create immediate ensemble cohesion and give students a kinesthetic anchor for the rhythmic feel, while the programmatic framework keeps energy high without requiring complex harmonic vocabulary.
What to expect
Cinematic and immersive, with the sense of watching a Viking voyage unfold in real time. The driving ostinatos create propulsive energy while the orchestration shifts between scenes, moving from calm waters to intense battle moments, keeping the ensemble engaged throughout.
Who it's for
Grade 2 concert bands ready to tackle a new meter in a high-engagement context. This is ideal for ensembles that respond well to programmatic music and benefit from visual or narrative scaffolding when learning rhythmic concepts.
How to get the most out of it
Establish the ostinato pulse with your lower woodwinds and brass before bringing in the melodic material; this anchors the 6/8 feel for the ensemble and prevents rushing.
Coach the ensemble to think of 6/8 as two large beats per measure rather than six, which helps younger players avoid subdividing too tightly and losing the flow.
Use the included Rhythm & Melody Sheets in sectional rehearsals to isolate rhythmic patterns before running the full score; this accelerates learning and builds confidence.
Shape the dynamic arcs around the "dramatic scenes" described in the program; when students understand they are painting a story, phrasing becomes more musical and intentional.
How to use it
This works well as a concert centerpiece that showcases your band's ability to execute both rhythmic precision and dynamic contrast. The three-minute length and festival-appropriate difficulty make it equally suitable for contest or festival programming early in the season when introducing new meters.
Skills your students will build
Reading and performing in 6/8 time with confidence
Sustaining ostinatos while maintaining ensemble blend
Responding to programmatic cues and shaping musical phrases around narrative intent
Rhythmic accuracy with minimal motivic material
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