Fire! - Mvt. 1 from Suite for the Heroes Among Us: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Mvt. 1 from Suite for the Heroes Among Us
By Robert W. Smith
Grade: 4.5
Item: 98-PK-RWS1834
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Description
"Suite for the Heroes Among Us" is a musical tribute from Master Composer Robert W. Smith to all of the everyday heroes that dedicate their lives to the care and protection of us all. The first movement "Fire" is dedicated to the Firefighters that choose to run towards danger when help is needed. A powerful musical statement that is programmable and appropriate in every community in the world.
Original Item#: RWS-1834-00
Original Item#: RWS-1834-00
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Symphony Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PK-RWS1834
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among America's most frequently performed composers of concert band and orchestral music. With more than 400 published works primarily distributed through Alfred Music, he has established a compositional language that reaches ensembles and audiences across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. His education includes a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Troy State University and a Master's degree in Music from the University of Miami.
Smith's original compositions and arrangements have appeared in contexts ranging from Olympic broadcasts to presidential ceremonies in Japan, from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. His symphonic works, particularly The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, alongside ensemble pieces like The Tempest, have become foundational works in the concert band repertoire. He has served as a conductor and clinician throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Western Europe.
Why we love this
Smith crafts a tribute that carries genuine weight without sacrificing musicality. The first movement captures the intensity and nobility of firefighters through direct, accessible musical language that works equally well at a community concert or state festival. This is the kind of piece that strengthens your program while honoring those who deserve it.
What to expect
Powerful and purposeful. The music moves with confident strides, building intensity through layered orchestration that feels both celebratory and reverent. It's the sound of courage translated into sound.
Who it's for
High school and community bands seeking meaningful concert programming that connects music to genuine values. Directors who want repertoire that resonates emotionally with audiences while remaining musically substantial and Grade 4.5 accessible.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the march-like pulse early in rehearsal to anchor the ensemble's sense of forward momentum. The piece demands precision in rhythmic unison, particularly in the opening statement.
- Balance the brass family carefully across all sections. The heroic theme passes between parts, and clarity depends on each section understanding whether they're carrying the melody or supporting the harmonic foundation.
- Shape the dynamic arc across entire phrases rather than hitting each dynamic marking as an isolated event. Smith's scoring rewards conductors who think architecturally about the whole movement.
How to use it
Open a concert program with this movement to set a tone of sincerity and civic pride, or program it alongside other movements from the suite for a complete thematic statement. It works particularly well in spring concerts, patriotic programs, or any performance where your community values warrant the centerpiece.
Skills your students will build
- Executing sustained dynamic control in march-like textures
- Balancing melodic lines across multiple sections during thematic exchanges
- Responding to broad conducting gestures that shape multi-phrase architectural designs
- Articulating marcato and tonguing passages with rhythmic precision