Blue: Baritone T.C.
Blue: Baritone T.C. Sheet Music Preview

Blue: Baritone T.C.

By Robert W. Smith

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-PC-RWS1503_BTC1
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Description
Simple, yet elegant and graceful, "Blue" is a lyrical work by Robert W. Smith for the developing concert band. Beautiful harmonic changes rooted in the language of American jazz make "Blue" a rich educational experience on many levels. With its poignant melody and beautiful chordal setting, "Blue" is appropriate for any concert or festival performance.

Original Item#: RWS-1503-00

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Additional Details
Series: RWS - Developing Band
Publisher: RWS Music Company
SKU: 98-PC-RWS1503_BTC1

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 to his credit. He holds degrees from Troy State University and the University of Miami, and his original compositions have been performed by ensembles across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Beyond the concert hall, Smith's music has reached audiences through major television broadcasts, Olympic ceremonies, and iconic American events ranging from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. His symphonic works, including The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, have become repertoire standards, while his developing band pieces like The Tempest serve as essential educational resources for growing ensembles.

Why we love this

Smith crafts emotional depth without technical overreach, giving Grade 2.5 bands genuine musical material that rewards careful listening. The jazz-informed harmonic language introduces students to extended tertian harmony and chromatic voice leading in an organically musical context, making this piece both pedagogically rich and genuinely beautiful enough to move an audience.

What to expect

Blue unfolds with quiet introspection, its melody expressing something intimate while the harmonic palette shifts underneath like light moving across water. The piece trades virtuosity for restraint, creating space for listeners to feel the emotional weight of each chord change.

Who it's for

Developing concert bands looking for repertoire that combines accessibility with genuine artistic substance. Directors seeking to expose students to American compositional voices and jazz-influenced harmony without overmatching their technical abilities will find this piece essential.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the phrase endings with subtle dynamic release rather than abrupt cutoffs; let the harmonic resolutions breathe.
  • Balance the melody against supporting voices so the lyricism emerges clearly while the jazz harmonies remain audible underneath.
  • Rehearse the sectional entrances in measure-by-measure segments to lock the harmonic progression; uneven attacks will obscure Smith's carefully voiced chords.

How to use it

Program Blue early in a concert as a palate-cleansing contrast to brasher opening numbers, or place it in the second half where its reflective quality helps audiences settle into deeper listening. The piece works particularly well in festival settings where judges appreciate compositional craft and student musicianship over difficulty.

Skills your students will build

  • Voicing jazz harmonies (seventh chords, chromatic voice leading)
  • Balancing melody against complex harmonic backgrounds
  • Shaping lyrical phrases with dynamic sensitivity
  • Reading and performing harmonic progressions rooted in American jazz language

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