Quasars: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$42.00 USD

Quasars: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Quasars: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-29461
Price: 42.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Todd Stalter

Grade: 1 (Very Easy)

Item: 00-29461

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Quasars are the brightest observable objects in the universe, created by super-massive black holes in the centers of galaxies. This piece attempts to musically portray the awe of the vastness of our universe, and the reflective middle section explores the wonder each of us has when viewing the nighttime sky. (2:25) 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, Quasars: 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: Alfred Debut Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 122

UPC: 038081318479

SKU: 00-29461

More about this title

About the Composer: Todd Stalter

Todd Stalter spent 34 years as Director of Bands at Eureka High School in Illinois, building one of the state's most respected band programs. His marching band earned 16 Class 1A state championships, his concert band achieved consistent Superior ratings at IHSA contests, and his ensembles performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Walt Disney World, along with winning festival championships at the Cotton and Liberty Bowls. He was inducted into the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame.

Beyond the high school setting, Stalter has conducted all-state bands in Georgia and Delaware, led numerous honor and district bands, and maintained an active schedule as an adjudicator and clinician across the Midwest. He holds degrees from Illinois State University, including a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance, and studied conducting with Dr. Stephen K. Steele. His original compositions for band and string orchestra are performed internationally and appear on state contest lists throughout the United States. Several of his works are featured in the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series published by GIA.

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Why we love this

Quasars captures something rare at Grade 1: genuine musical storytelling that respects young musicians' musicianship without condescending to their technical level. The programmatic concept (cosmic scale and personal wonder) gives students something meaningful to play toward, while the reflective middle section provides a welcome contrast that deepens emotional engagement. This is the kind of opening-concert piece that reminds an audience why they came.

What to expect

The piece opens with a sense of wonder and immensity, inviting listeners to look upward at something vast and incomprehensible. A quiet, reflective middle section draws inward, allowing each person in the audience (and on stage) a moment of personal connection to the night sky. The return to the opening cosmic imagery feels earned, transforming awe into something touched by human experience.

Who it's for

Beginning and young concert bands seeking accessible repertoire with genuine artistic purpose. This works equally well for a middle school band developing tone control and phrasing, or as a festival opener for a high school ensemble looking to set a thoughtful mood before more technically demanding work.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening statement to convey vastness; resist the urge to rush despite the technical accessibility, letting silence and space carry weight.
Balance the ensemble carefully in the reflective section so individual voices emerge without requiring advanced dynamics vocabulary from young players.
Rehearse the transition back to the cosmic section to ensure clarity and energy return without losing the contemplative mood you've just established.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to establish a contemplative atmosphere before moving into lighter or more energetic works. It also pairs naturally with other programmatic pieces or a thematic concert about nature and science. At 2:25, it fits neatly into solo and ensemble festivals or chamber concerts without overwhelming a young ensemble's stamina.