Sky Bound: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$78.00 USD

Sky Bound: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Sky Bound: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-41963
Price: 78.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Todd Stalter

Grade: 4 (Medium Difficult)

Item: 00-41963

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Inspired by a poem by the ancient Persian poet Rumi: "Love calls, everywhere and always. We are sky bound. Are you coming?" The imagery of ascension is evident in the rising musical motives, and the energy and drive of the music concludes with an affirmation of hope. (5:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Alfred Concert Band

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 292

UPC: 038081471280

SKU: 00-41963

More about this title

About the Composer: Todd Stalter

Todd Stalter built a legendary 34-year tenure as Director of Bands at Eureka High School in Illinois, where his ensembles became fixtures on state contest honor rolls and performance stages across the country. His marching band earned 16 Class 1A state championships; his concert band consistently achieved Superior ratings at IHSA competitions; and his groups performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Walt Disney World, and multiple bowl game festivals. Beyond his own program, he has conducted All-State bands in Georgia and Delaware, led numerous honor ensembles, and maintained an active schedule as an adjudicator and clinician across the Midwest.

Stalter holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Illinois State University, where he studied conducting with Dr. Stephen K. Steele and trumpet with faculty who performed at the highest levels of American military and civilian music. His compositions for band and string orchestra appear regularly on state festival lists and in the influential "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series published by GIA. He is an inductee of the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame.

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Why we love this

Stalter anchors this piece in the emotional weight of Rumi's words about transcendence and human connection, then translates that resonance into purely musical architecture. The rising motives feel inevitable rather than forced, and the trajectory toward hope lands with genuine affirmation rather than empty resolution. A Grade 4 work that respects the intelligence of both the ensemble and the audience.

What to expect

The piece unfolds as an ascent, with rising figures that feel like gathering momentum rather than mechanical repetition. There is vitality and drive throughout, but never frenzy; the closing affirmation of hope feels earned and genuine, offering both the performers and listeners a sense of arrival and purpose.

Who it's for

Bands at the Grade 4 level seeking concert repertoire with genuine artistic substance and a clear narrative arc. The work suits programs that program thematically or those preparing for contest and festival competition where musical maturity and emotional depth matter.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening rising motives with consistent phrase direction; avoid letting individual section entries disrupt the line's forward momentum.
Balance the energy of the piece against its spiritual underpinnings. Avoid rushing; the affirmation at the conclusion carries more weight when earned through deliberate pacing.
Highlight the poetic program notes in rehearsal. Directors and students who understand the Rumi reference will naturally invest in the ascending imagery and emotional arc.
Give attention to transitions between sections. Stalter builds momentum through motivic development, so clean handoffs between ideas reinforce the journey toward the closing statement.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert with a theme of growth, aspiration, or connection. Its 5:30 length and Grade 4 accessibility make it ideal for mid-program placement, allowing the band to settle into the piece's emotional geography before concluding with lighter or more virtuosic works.

Skills your students will build

Executing rising linear figures with phrase shape and direction
Balancing section independence with ensemble cohesion during motivic development
Sustaining tempo and emotional commitment across a longer concert work
Responding to program notes and poetic text as guides for musical interpretation