Robert W. Smith’s The Tempest (1995) is a staple programmatic work for developing concert bands (Grade 1), designed to simulate the raw power of a storm at sea. It serves as an educational tool to teach phrasing, articulation, and dynamic balance. Musical Overview & Structure
The piece is characterized by its dramatic shifts in texture and energy, moving from a mysterious opening to a "violent windstorm".
Introductory Phase (mm. 1–8): Begins with warm, legato lines in the clarinets and low woodwinds, meant to evoke a sense of mystery and "impending energy".
The Storm Unleashed (m. 9): A sudden shift where the brass enters aggressively with accented quarter-note melodies. the tempest robert w smith score pdf
Ostinato Section (m. 18): Flutes, clarinets, and percussion play a skittering rhythmic ostinato—representing swirling winds—which is juxtaposed against lyrical themes in the horns and saxophones.
Final Build (mm. 69–End): A six-measure crescendo leads to dissonant major-second intervals, culminating in a triumphant fortissimo unison concert G. Technical Specifications Grade Level: 1 (Very Easy). Duration: Approximately 2:00 to 2:16 minutes. Tempo: Marked "With Energy" at approximately
Publisher: Originally Belwin-Mills/Warner Bros., now administered by Alfred Music. Instrumentation 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.
Percussion: Mallet Percussion (Bells, Xylophone), Timpani, Percussion I (Snare/Bass Drum, Triangle), and Percussion II (Wind Chimes, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine). Conductor & Study Resources Tempest The Robert W. Smith | PDF - Scribd
For over two decades, Robert W. Smith’s "The Tempest" has stood as one of the most recognizable and frequently performed works in the young and intermediate concert band repertoire. Commissioned by the Truman State University Wind Symphony, this powerful composition captures the fury, mystery, and awe of a violent storm at sea. It is a rite of passage for many high school and college bands, pushing technical boundaries while remaining accessible to dedicated ensembles. Introduction: A Staple of the Concert Band Repertoire
A common search query among band directors and music students alike is "The Tempest Robert W Smith score PDF"—a digital copy of the conductor’s score. While the demand for instant, free access is understandable for study and rehearsal planning, it is crucial to understand what you are searching for, why the score is so valuable, and how to legally obtain it for your ensemble.
This article will dissect the piece, analyze its structure, and guide you toward legitimate sources for the digitized score.
Robert W. Smith’s work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law (Smith passed away in 2023, but his works are administered by Alfred Music). Because The Tempest remains a bestselling piece, publishers actively scan the web for unauthorized uploads. Unlike public domain works (pre-1928), The Tempest will not be free for decades.
While individual instrument parts are sometimes leaked onto file-sharing sites, the full conductor score is the crown jewel. Publishers protect the score aggressively because it contains the intellectual blueprint of the composition.