With Uncommon Valor: B-flat Tenor Saxophone
By Todd Stalter
Grade: 1.5 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0017702_TX1
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Description
Written to evoke a universal sense of heroism, pride, and bravery, here is a wonderful concert selection for any serious, ceremonial, or formal occasion. The stirring fanfare and lyrical themes, along with regal percussion scoring, combine to make this work an ideal processional. (3:00)
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Additional Details
Series:
Challenger Band Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
122
SKU:
00-PC-0017702_TX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Todd Stalter
Todd Stalter brings four decades of band directing experience to his compositional work, having shaped the program at Eureka High School in Eureka, Illinois from 1980 to 2014. His tenure there produced 16 Class 1A state marching championships, consistent Superior ratings at IHSA contests, and performances at prestigious venues including Chicago's Orchestra Hall and Walt Disney World. Beyond his home program, Stalter has conducted All-State bands in Georgia and Delaware, led numerous honor ensembles across Illinois, and maintained an active schedule as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest.
His compositions for band and string orchestra circulate widely in educational settings, with multiple works appearing in state contest lists and in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA. Stalter earned his Bachelor of Music Education (cum laude) and Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Illinois State University, where he studied trumpet with Richard Lehman of the United States Marine Band and conducting with Dr. Stephen K. Steele. His induction into the Illinois State Marching Band Championships Hall of Fame reflects a career devoted to advancing musical excellence in young musicians.
Why we love this
This piece strikes a rare balance between accessibility and genuine artistic substance. A Grade 1.5 work that sounds ceremonial and substantial without demanding advanced technique allows directors to build a strong concert program around meaningful repertoire rather than padding it with simplistic filler. The fanfare-and-lyrical-themes architecture gives every section of the band something memorable to play, making it equally satisfying in performance.
What to expect
The piece unfolds with unmistakable ceremonial weight, opening with a stirring fanfare that declares confidence and purpose. Lyrical passages offer moments of reflection and breadth, while the regal percussion work throughout gives the entire ensemble a sense of occasion and importance, creating music that feels both heroic and accessible.
Who it's for
Directors seeking dignified, Grade 1.5 repertoire for formal occasions, opening concerts, or festival programming will find this particularly valuable. Young bands that need to sound poised and mature without exceeding their technical reach will respond well to its accessible orchestration and clear musical architecture.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the fanfare with clarity and punch; crisp articulation in the brass will define the opening and set the formal tone for the entire work.
- Allow the lyrical themes to breathe with gentle rubato. Young players often play too rigidly at this level, so modeling phrase contour and dynamic shaping during rehearsal pays dividends.
- Balance the regal percussion scoring carefully so it punctuates rather than overwhelms. These moments frame the harmonic and melodic content.
- Lock the processional character by maintaining steady, confident tempos and ensuring all sections feel the pulse together, especially during transitions between fanfare and lyrical sections.
How to use it
Open a concert with this work to set a formal, uplifting tone that signals artistic intention to your audience. It also works powerfully as a processional for ceremonies, inductions, or special events. At Grade 1.5, it provides excellent programming contrast with more technical or experimental works while still maintaining musical substance and dignity.
Skills your students will build
- Executing crisp fanfare figures and articulation patterns
- Shaping lyrical phrasing with dynamic control at accessible ranges
- Maintaining steady pulse and ensemble unity during processional tempos
- Balancing percussion with melodic and harmonic content
- Reading and performing regal, ceremonial orchestration