Aces - For Those Who Command the Skies: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
For Those Who Command the Skies
By Robert W. Smith
Grade: 5
Item: 98-PK-RWS1501
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Description
Composed for the United States Air Force Academy, "Aces" pays tribute to those that soar the skies. Beginning with a brilliant and majestic fanfare, the piece quickly develops through bold musical material wrought with tension and energy. Following the return of the opening theme in a beautiful and lyrical setting, "Aces" culminates in a flurry of excitement as our jets soar into the distance. A spectacular work by Robert W. Smith for the accomplished concert band!
Original Item#: RWS-1501-00
Original Item#: RWS-1501-00
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Symphony Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PK-RWS1501
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among America's most prolific composers for concert band and orchestra, with over 400 published works performed internationally across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Troy State University and a Master of Music from the University of Miami, and has established himself as both a composer and conductor through extensive clinic work and performances across the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Italy, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
Smith's compositions have transcended the concert hall, appearing in major television broadcasts, ceremonial events honoring world leaders, the Olympic Games, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and performances at iconic American venues. His symphonies and concert band works, including The Tempest and other pieces for developing ensembles, have become standard repertoire in music programs worldwide.
Why we love this
Smith brings cinematic sweep and military precision to this Grade 5 work without sacrificing the musicianship your band needs to grow. The structure moves with remarkable clarity: a genuine fanfare opening, substantive developmental material that feels earned, and a lyrical restatement that gives your ensemble room to sing before launching into the finale. This is Grade 5 writing that respects the intelligence of accomplished high school musicians.
What to expect
Aces captures the exhilaration and power of flight, beginning with a brilliant ceremonial opening that commands attention immediately. The piece carries genuine drama, moving from majestic fanfare through turbulent energy into moments of soaring beauty before releasing all restraint in a triumphant final ascent.
Who it's for
Advanced high school concert bands and strong community bands ready for Grade 5 technical and musical demands. This work suits bands with solid intonation, secure ensemble fundamentals, and players who can execute rapid passagework with confidence.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening fanfare with clarity and projection; avoid letting the brass section blur the harmonic progression during the fastest note values.
- Balance the lyrical middle section by bringing the melodic line forward while keeping inner voices transparent; this is where listeners catch their breath before the final push.
- Maintain rhythmic precision through the energetic closing section; the excitement builds through propulsive articulation and control, not rushing.
How to use it
Program this as a second or third selection on a concert when you want a work that builds momentum for the audience. The technical demands and thematic clarity make it excellent for contest programming, where judges appreciate both the compositional craft and the performance challenge it presents to accomplished ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Articulation precision in rapid brass and woodwind passages
- Dynamic control across contrasting sections (fanfare, lyrical, energetic)
- Ensemble balance when multiple voices carry melodic material simultaneously
- Sustained legato phrasing in the middle lyrical section