The Swords of Stavanger: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$52.00 USD

The Swords of Stavanger: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Swords of Stavanger: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-31712
Price: 52.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert Sheldon

Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-31712

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One moment…

The unification of the Viking tribes is of great significance to the people living in the southwest region of Norway. The International School of Stavanger lies only one kilometer from a small fjord called Hafrsfjord where a monument, "Swords in Stone," was constructed consisting of three large bronze swords stuck in an outcropping on the shore. The monument commemorates a battle which unified the Viking tribes of Norway under one king, Harald Hårfagre, or Harald the Fairhaired. According to legend, in 872 Harald invited the other tribal leaders to a meeting, then had his boats cut off their retreat and they battled until the other leaders submitted to Harald's rule. Harald then became the first king of Norway. The Swords of Stavanger seeks to provide a musical backdrop to this legend of Viking heroism and conquest. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Swords of Stavanger: 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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Series: Young Symphonic

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 128

UPC: 038081349572

SKU: 00-31712

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon stands among the most frequently performed composers of wind band repertoire today. His works appear regularly on contest lists and concert stages worldwide, and he has received major recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP for compositions that balance musical substance with genuine accessibility. Beyond the page, Sheldon maintains an active presence as guest conductor for All-State and Regional Honor Bands, clinician at universities and state conferences, and commissioning composer for ensembles across the globe.

Sheldon's influence extends to music education itself as lead author of Sound Innovations for Concert Band. His conducting and teaching have taken him across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and his music has sounded in Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to the field.

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Why we love this

Sheldon captures the sweep and drama of a historical moment without overshadowing younger players. The Grade 2 scoring allows all sections to contribute meaningfully while the programmatic context gives your ensemble something genuine to play toward, not just notes on a page.

What to expect

The music evokes the raw energy and strategic ambition of Viking legend without requiring virtuosic playing. You hear triumph without pretension, movement without chaos, and a sense of historical weight that young players can inhabit genuinely.

Who it's for

Young concert bands ready to tackle programmatic writing with real stakes. Directors seeking repertoire that connects students to world cultures and history while staying musically accessible and contest-ready.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening to establish the legend rather than rush it; let silence and space work for you before the music builds toward the Viking narrative.
Balance the harmonic content so that inner voices support the melodic line without drowning it; younger bands often weight dynamics too heavily in the low brass.
Secure rhythmic precision in the transitions between sections; programmatic pieces depend on clear architectural moments to guide the listener through the story.
Encourage the ensemble to visualize the three swords monument and the moment of unification; that shared image will deepen ensemble phrasing and commitment.

How to use it

Open a concert with this as a thematic anchor for a program exploring historical narratives in music, or pair it with contrasting pieces that explore different cultural traditions. The Grade 2 level makes it a strong choice mid-season when your band has built enough fundamentals to handle programmatic focus without struggling technically.

Skills your students will build

Interpreting programmatic music and matching musical phrasing to narrative arc
Balancing independent lines within harmonic textures
Executing clear sectional transitions and dynamic shaping at accessible technical levels
Reading and performing across varied instrumental ranges and doublings