A Simple Song at Sunrise Cover Image

A Simple Song at Sunrise: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$85.00 USD
$85.00 USD
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A Simple Song at Sunrise Cover Image
A Simple Song at Sunrise: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

A Simple Song at Sunrise: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

(from "Florida Suite")

By Robert W. Smith / Setting by Evan VanDoren

Grade: 3

Item: 98-RWS255500
$85.00
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Description
A Simple Song at Sunrise, composed for DCI's first-ever show featuring all original music, is now available for your concert band. This ballad from "A Florida Suite," Robert W. Smith's masterwork has captivated audiences for decades and will do the same for yours. Envisioned as a sunrise over a Florida beach, Evan VanDoren's beautifully orchestrated concert band setting truly honors the legacy of the original composer.

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Additional Details
Series: RWS - Concert Band
Publisher: RWS Music Company
ISBN10: 1-4706-7836-5
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-7836-4
UPC: 038081602714
SKU: 98-RWS255500

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith stands among America's most recorded composers for concert band and orchestra, with over 400 published works that have traveled from North America to Europe, Australia, and Asia. He holds degrees from Troy State University and the University of Miami, and his symphonic works like The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey have become fixtures in the concert hall. His music has appeared on major network broadcasts, Olympic ceremonies, and national celebrations, establishing him as a composer whose voice resonates across diverse musical contexts.

Beyond the concert stage, Smith has shaped the repertoire through his tireless work as a conductor and clinician. He has led ensembles and taught musicians across the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe, bringing his compositional vision directly to the performers who bring it to life. His ability to write for both professional orchestras and developing ensembles has made him an essential figure in music education.

Why we love this

Smith's original music from A Florida Suite transcends the typical ballad format because it carries genuine architectural weight. The orchestration by Evan VanDoren maintains the integrity of Smith's vision while opening it up for younger ensembles, making this both musically substantial and accessible. Contests and festivals consistently program Smith's work because audiences respond to its melodic clarity and emotional directness.

What to expect

The opening unfolds like dawn over water, with warm light gradually spreading across a quiet landscape. Melodies emerge unhurried and genuine, built on clear harmonic foundations that younger players can trust and shape. The ballad's restraint becomes its greatest strength, inviting musicians to listen to one another and find poetry in simplicity.

Who it's for

Grade 3 concert bands seeking repertoire that combines lyrical beauty with musical substance. Directors looking for a ballad that satisfies both musicians and audiences without excessive technical demands.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening phrases with careful attention to the natural breath of the melody; resist the urge to press forward and let the sunrise imagery live in the space between statements.
  • Balance the inner voices that accompany the main line. The supporting material should enhance rather than compete, creating a translucent harmonic fabric.
  • Work the dynamic arch as a single architectural gesture across larger sections rather than responding to every written marking individually. The piece breathes when you think in terms of sunrise progression.

How to use it

This works as the emotional centerpiece of a contest set or a program opener that establishes a contemplative mood before brighter selections. It pairs naturally with other Smith works or with contemporary ballads, and its modest instrumentation demands make it valuable for programs where resources are limited.

Skills your students will build

  • Long-line phrasing and melodic shaping over 8 and 16-bar sections
  • Balance between primary and secondary melodic material
  • Dynamic control across the full dynamic range
  • Ensemble listening in sustained, slower tempos
  • Understanding lyrical intent in original composition

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