The Storm Chaser: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

The Storm Chaser: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: The Storm Chaser: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6232
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mark Lortz

Grade: 3

Item: 98-ST6232

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Immerse yourself in the world of storm chasers, following the planet's deadliest and most violent weather outbreaks. This high-energy piece uses ostinatos and dynamic rhythms to capture the power and awe of these massive storms. A soft opening portrays the calm before the storm, followed by a driving chase motive that includes an optional percussion section. An explosive work!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Storm Chaser: String Orchestra 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: FJH String Orchestra

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398228140

SKU: 98-ST6232

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Lortz

Mark Lortz directs the music department at Stevenson University and serves as music editor for RWS Music Company, bringing decades of experience in composition, arranging, and ensemble direction to his work. His compositions have premiered internationally and earned recognition from ASCAP, with selections featured at major conferences including The Midwest Clinic and the College Band Directors National Association. Beyond the concert hall, Lortz has arranged for the multi-world champion Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps and conducted the U.S. Army Field Band and U.S. Naval Academy ensembles, establishing himself as a sought-after clinician and adjudicator across the country.

His creative output spans multiple ensembles and genres, receiving praise in Gramophone and The Instrumentalist while earning spots on Bandworld's Top 100 and J.W. Pepper's Editor's Choice lists. Lortz holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University and studied percussion performance, composition, and education at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. The Maryland Music Educators' Association named him an Outstanding Educator in 2024, recognizing his sustained contributions to music education and mentorship.

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Why we love this

Lortz captures the visceral intensity of severe weather without resorting to tired sound-effect tricks. The soft opening and gradually building chase motive create genuine dramatic arc, while the ostinatos and rhythmic drive stay tightly musical throughout. This works equally well at festival competitions and as a concert centerpiece that keeps audiences engaged from the first sustained note.

What to expect

The opening stillness and gathering tension pull you into anticipation, then thrust you forward with relentless rhythmic momentum as the storm chase unfolds. Ostinatos lock you into the urgency while dynamic waves surge around them, creating the sensation of being swept along by an unstoppable force of nature.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the intermediate level seeking engaging programmatic work that balances technical accessibility with genuine dramatic impact. This piece works for ensembles preparing for festival performance or concert programming that appeals to young musicians and general audiences alike.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the calm opening with a transparent, unified sound; excessive vibrato will diffuse the tension you'll need when the storm emerges.
Lock the chase motive's rhythmic pulse across all sections; the drive depends on absolute precision rather than individual expression.
Treat the optional percussion as an enhancement, not a requirement; if you include it, balance the added color so it propels rather than overwhelms the string writing.
Shape the dynamic arc carefully between the opening and the explosive sections to ensure the intensity builds naturally and feels earned.

How to use it

Open or close a concert with this piece to showcase both the lyrical and driving capacities of your string orchestra, or build a thematic program around weather, nature, or contemporary science. Its accessibility at Grade 3 makes it suitable for festival competition while the programmatic content adds visual and emotional dimension to any concert setting.

Skills your students will build

Controlling sustained tones and dynamic shaping during soft, exposed passages
Executing rhythmic precision within driving ostinato patterns across the full ensemble
Responding to dramatic shifts in intensity and character within a single movement
Balancing individual voice independence with collective ensemble blend