The legendary Legend of Zelda Theme is a composition by Koji Kondo and is one of the most iconic video game themes of all time. Power Publishing presents Joshua Capri's arrangement for young band. This arrangement is graded at a 2.75 level which makes it accessible yet appropriately challenging for students in their second to third year of playing.


This piece employs mode mixture between Bb major and Bb minor so warming up with Bb major, Bb harmonic minor, and Bb natural minor can greatly help with the accidentals in this piece. It primarily stays within the one octave range of Bb major/minor, making it ideal for a young band. The melody is featured in the flute, alto saxophone, and trumpet parts while clarinets play a counter melody that is friendly to the break. Low brass and woodwinds also get in on the melody at measure 26. There is a four bar solo at measure 38 that is written into all wind parts so any member of the band can take on the solo if they feel like shining.

?Shepherds? Rocking Carol? is a traditional Czechoslovakian folk tune (?Hajej, nynej, Jezisku?) with lyrics loosely translated by the Anglican clergyman, Percy Dearmer. With Ralph Vaughan Williams, Dearmer was co-editor of The English Hymnal (1906) as well as The Oxford Book of Carols (1928), in which his translation, ?Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep,? appears with the Czech tune.

This arrangement for young/developing band is an ideal vehicle for the budding oboist, featuring the oboe on melody in the first presentation of the tune and recapitulating at the work?s end. (A clarinet solo / substitute for oboe part is provided.)

Although conservative in range and technical demands, ?Shepherds? Rocking Carol? incorporates a variety of instrumental, dynamic, and harmonic contrasts that make it both simple and elegant, and ideal for developing musicianship in every section of the band.