Rampage!: Flexible Band/String Ensemble Score & Parts

Stalter understands the real constraints of mixed ensembles and writes with genuine consideration for flexible instrumentation. The Teacher Map and supplemental parts remove the guesswork from casting, while the music itself demands musicianship across all players whether they're tackling aggressive brass statements, interwoven woodwind lines, or supporting string parts with carefully edited fingerings and bowings. You get a piece that sounds cohesive regardless of your instrumentation choices, which means your students experience success rather than struggling to patch together incompatible arrangements.

Rampage! is relentless energy punctuated by discipline. The opening pushes forward with aggressive brass and woodwind statements that demand both force and finesse, creating a sense of controlled intensity that carries through the piece. When the contrasting introspective section arrives, the musical landscape shifts to something more introspective and nuanced, giving players a chance to explore expression before the driving energy returns.

Directors working with ensembles of five or more players drawn from any combination of winds, strings, and percussion will find this piece immediately practical. Schools with instrumentation gaps, mixed groups, or limited numbers can assign parts confidently using the suggested instrumentation and Teacher Map. The Grade 3 level makes it accessible for developing ensembles while the writing quality keeps it rewarding for stronger groups.

• Balance the aggressive opening statements between brass and woodwinds so neither drowns out the other. The interwoven lines need clarity, which requires disciplined dynamic control from both sections.
• Prepare string players for less familiar keys by using Stalter's edited fingerings and bowings as written rather than substituting them. These choices support intonation and sound development in passages that might otherwise feel awkward.
• Mark the contrasting introspective section clearly in rehearsal so players understand the shift from relentless energy to nuanced expression. This textural pivot is where the piece gains its emotional depth.
• Lock the percussion accompaniment track during full ensemble rehearsals once parts are secure. The click version helps students anchor rhythm; the non-click version provides a musical reference for tone and balance.

Program this in the second half of a concert where the aggressive character and strong opening make an impact after gentler opening selections. It works equally well as a contest or festival piece, where the clear musical architecture and level-appropriate demands showcase ensemble musicianship. Use it mid-year when your ensemble has developed enough technical security to handle the interwoven parts without sacrificing musical line.

• Playing with controlled dynamic intensity and nuanced expression simultaneously
• Reading and executing carefully edited fingerings and bowings in unfamiliar keys
• Balancing interwoven wind parts to maintain individual clarity
• Interpreting contrasting musical sections with appropriate character shifts
• Ensemble cohesion across mixed instrumentation with varied comfort levels in different keys