Typhoon: E-flat Alto Saxophone
By Todd Stalter
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0017893_AX1
$3.00
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Description
Strong, energetic low-brass themes, rising chromatic lines, and surging percussion are the soundscape for this powerful and forceful musical depiction of a typhoon. The secondary theme is built on the rhythm of "SOS" in Morse code, sometimes featuring a change in meters. Your band will shine as they whip up the ending to a gale force conclusion!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Typhoon: E-flat Alto Saxophone comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Young Symphonic
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
266
SKU:
00-PC-0017893_AX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Todd Stalter
Todd Stalter built a legendary 34-year career as Director of Bands at Eureka High School in Illinois, where his ensembles earned sustained recognition: the Marching Band captured 16 Class 1A state championships, the Concert Band consistently achieved Superior ratings at state contests, and both groups performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Walt Disney World. Beyond his high school leadership, he has guest conducted All-State Bands in Georgia and Delaware, adjudicated countless solo and ensemble competitions, and presented clinics on composition and music education across the Midwest.
Stalter's compositions for band and string orchestra have earned national reach, with many works appearing on state festival lists and in the influential "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series. He holds degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from Illinois State University, where he studied conducting with Dr. Stephen K. Steele and trumpet with faculty who performed in prestigious ensembles. His induction into the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame reflects a career defined by both educational excellence and creative contribution to the band repertoire.
Why we love this
This is a Grade 3 piece that refuses to feel simplistic. The low-brass writing carries genuine weight and character, the SOS rhythm motif gives the band something conceptually interesting to latch onto, and Stalter builds tension through rising chromatics and meter shifts rather than relying on sheer volume. The ending delivers real payoff without feeling unearned.
What to expect
A storm gathering force. The piece opens with muscular brass statements that feel grounded and inevitable, then spirals upward through chromatic tension. The unexpected shift to SOS rhythm creates an unsettling middle section before the percussion unleashes fully and the band whips toward a violent, exhilarating conclusion.
Who it's for
Grade 3 concert bands ready to tackle pieces with real musical substance and weather programmatic elements. This works well for bands that have steady low-brass sections and can handle metric flexibility without losing cohesion.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the low-brass foundation early in rehearsals. These themes define the piece, so lock the tuba and trombone lines before layering in the upper voices.
- Mark the meter changes clearly for all parts during the secondary theme section. The SOS rhythm sits differently in 3/4 versus 4/4, and clarity prevents the band from drifting.
- Balance the chromatic rising lines so they cut through without overwhelming the primary themes underneath. These passages build urgency when kept transparent.
- Shape the final gale-force section with dynamic buildup across the last 8-10 measures. Resist the urge to jump to full volume too early; let the percussion surge propel the conclusion.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a concert exploring weather or natural phenomena, or place it as the climactic finale of a concert set. The dramatic arc and strong finish make it an excellent closer, and the contest/festival designation means it can anchor your band's competitive season.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing thick low-brass textures with upper voices
- Reading and executing meter changes (3/4 and 4/4 shifts)
- Maintaining ensemble cohesion during rising chromatic passages
- Dynamic shaping and cumulative building toward a powerful conclusion
- Interpreting programmatic intent through rhythmic motifs (SOS pattern)