Buffalo Dances: Score
By Robert W. Smith
Grade: 4 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0000907
$12.00
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Description
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Buffalo Dances: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Symphonic Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
280
SKU:
00-PR-0000907
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among America's most frequently performed composers for concert band and orchestra, with over 400 published works distributed primarily through Alfred Music. His training spans a Bachelor of Music Education from Troy State University in Alabama and a Master of Music from the University of Miami, grounding his craft in both compositional technique and pedagogical understanding.
Smith's symphonic works, including The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, have circulated internationally across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Beyond the concert hall, his compositions and arrangements have appeared in Olympic broadcasts, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and televised events at Dodger Stadium. As a guest conductor and clinician, he has led ensembles throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe, bringing direct knowledge of how music functions across different musical cultures and performance contexts.
Why we love this
Smith writes for the developing band with genuine understanding of what middle-level ensembles can achieve musically. Buffalo Dances delivers energetic, character-filled writing that holds rehearsal interest while remaining accessible, making it an efficient choice for programs that need material with personality and no technical surprises.
What to expect
Buffalo Dances captures the spirit and movement of the American frontier through rhythmic vitality and colorful orchestration. The piece invites players into a narrative world, balancing accessibility with genuine musical substance.
Who it's for
Intermediate concert bands seeking repertoire with distinctive character and straightforward execution. This is ideal for programs building toward festival performances or seeking material that showcases ensemble personality without demanding advanced technique.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the rhythmic figures across the ensemble so the titled character emerges clearly; Smith's orchestration relies on clarity rather than weight.
- Shape each section's opening phrase with slight independence before locking the full ensemble; this prevents the piece from feeling static across its form.
- Let the percussion section breathe as a foundational layer rather than driving from on top; the dance rhythms work best when anchored steadily beneath the melodic voices.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener or within a set of American-themed repertoire to ground a full concert in recognizable cultural territory. It pairs well alongside other Smith works or regional concert band standards, and works equally effectively at spring concerts or festival programs where energy and clarity matter.
Skills your students will build
- Execution of rhythmic motifs across multiple sections simultaneously
- Balancing independent melodic lines without doubling thickness
- Shaping contrasting sections and transitions
- Coordinating percussion articulation with ensemble phrasing