Know Your Enemy: Marching Band Conductor Score & Parts

Mike Story's arrangement captures the relentless drive of the original without sacrificing clarity for Grade 2 bands. The block scoring approach gives every section meaningful material rather than relegating half the ensemble to rhythmic padding, and closing a show with a contemporary rock anthem creates genuine energy on the field.

Relentless and propulsive. The driving percussion layer creates forward momentum throughout, while the block harmonies provide weight and presence without complexity. This is music built to land with impact on the field.

This arrangement serves marching bands seeking accessible contemporary repertoire that commands audience attention without requiring virtuosic technical demands. Grade 2 groups will find rock-solid part-writing that keeps every player engaged while celebrating a song that many students already know and respect.

• Establish the groove early in rehearsal by isolating the percussion foundation before adding harmony voices; the power of this arrangement hinges on rhythmic cohesion across the entire battery.
• Balance the block harmonies so that no single voice dominates; Grade 2 players often lean into their own part without hearing how it sits within the larger chord structure.
• Build dynamic contrast from section to section rather than relying on sudden fortissimo jumps; this piece needs breathing room to land its hard-hitting moments.
• Lock in the brass figures with the drum machine or backing track during rehearsals to ensure your ensemble stays tight with the recorded accompaniment at performance tempo.

Position this as a show closer that sends the audience home energized; the contemporary source material and kinetic arrangement make it an ideal finale that contrasts sharply with traditional or classical selections earlier in your program. The 118-page conductor score and parts give you a complete package for immediate rehearsal.

• Maintaining steady pulse within a rock groove
• Voice independence in block harmony scoring
• Balancing rhythmic precision with musical expression
• Responding to sustained dynamic intensity