Robert W. Smith ’s "The Tempest" (1995) is a cornerstone of repertoire for Grade 1 (Very Easy) beginning concert bands. It is widely used by educators to make young musicians sound more mature through its "rugged" brass lines and driving percussion. Core Musical Features
Dynamic Contrast. Smith writes fff (fortississimo) and ppp (pianississimo) within four measures. On your PDF, draw arrows connecting the loudest and softest points. The success of The Tempest hinges on the band’s ability to explode and then instantly retreat.
Introduction
Throughout the score, Smith employs a range of musical themes and motifs to convey the play's narrative and emotional depth. Some notable examples include:
Percussion Requirements: Requires at least 6 percussionists to cover all parts, including Timpani, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Triangle, Wind Chimes, Suspended Cymbal, and Mallets (Bells/Xylophone). Where to Find the Score (PDF) the tempest robert w smith score pdf
Headline: Mastering the Storm: "The Tempest" by Robert W. Smith 🌪️🎺
The Climax: The piece builds through an agitated six-measure crescendo, culminating in a dissonant major-second chord before ending on a triumphant, fortissimo unison G concert. Instrumentation and Educational Value Robert W
The score is written for a standard beginning concert band ensemble: Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone. Brass: Trumpet, Horn in F, Trombone/Baritone/Bassoon, Tuba.