Based on a two-bar motive by Jonathan Shachter (the first two bars), this started out as a trumpet trio written in one night. It was later rewritten for brass quintet and retitled "The Green Knight". This title was coined by Jason Mirick as the result of a story involving Medieval Times and a band trip.

The trumpet trio enjoyed several notorious impromptu performances in hallways throughout the music department, much to the dismay of clarinetists everywhere.