Hot As Blue Blazes: Concert Band Conductor Score

$15.00 USD

Hot As Blue Blazes: Concert Band Conductor Score

Name: Hot As Blue Blazes: Concert Band Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-RWS232101
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Robert W. Smith

Grade: 5

Item: 98-RWS232101

$15.00

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A musical "tour de force" for the concert band. As the title suggests, the American jazz style and its historic roots in American music is the inspiration for this showcase for the more advanced band. Featuring blazing woodwind lines combined with powerful brass and driving percussion, this is a significant programming choice that will be enthusiastically received by your ensemble musicians. The resulting audience reaction will elevate your ensemble to another level of musical appreciation. Hot!

Original Item#: RWS-2321-01

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Series: RWS - Symphony Band

Publisher: RWS Music Company

ISBN10: 1-4706-9590-1

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-9590-3

UPC: 038081611754

SKU: 98-RWS232101

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith has established himself as one of the most frequently performed composers in the concert band and orchestral world, with more than 400 published works. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Troy State University in Alabama and his Master of Music from the University of Miami. His original compositions for concert band and orchestra have been performed across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, with works like The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey gaining international recognition.

Beyond the concert hall, Smith's music has appeared in high-profile broadcasts and ceremonial events, from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade telecast to the Olympic Games and opening ceremonies at major venues. As a conductor and clinician, he has worked with ensembles throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe, establishing a reputation for writing music that demands excellence while remaining deeply musical.

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Why we love this

Smith's treatment of American jazz idioms here avoids the clichés that plague many novelty pieces. The counterpoint between blazing woodwind figurations and a brass section that drives rather than overpowers creates an arrangement that respects your players while giving audiences the spectacle they crave. This is the kind of crowd-pleasing concert piece that also has genuine musical substance.

What to expect

Hot As Blue Blazes burns with the energy of big-band swing married to concert band sonorities. Woodwinds snap and interweave while brass powerfully punctuates, and the whole ensemble rides on a groove that refuses to let the audience sit still. It's music that feels both intellectually composed and viscerally exciting.

Who it's for

Advanced concert bands (Grade 5) ready to tackle a piece that demands technical facility and stylistic maturity. Your ensemble needs solid fundamentals and players comfortable with jazz articulation and phrasing to execute this effectively.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the woodwind lines carefully in the opening passages; they need to cut through without the brass reducing dynamic range. Have your saxophones mark their entrances prominently in rehearsal.
Lock your percussion section early. The driving pulse is what carries the jazz vocabulary, so invest rehearsal time in getting the kick drum, hi-hat, and snare coordinated before layering in mallets.
Shape the phrasing in brass figures with rhythmic precision and a clear sense of swing feel. Straight rhythm here will flatten the style immediately.
Use the full dynamic range of your band. The contrasts between the virtuosic passages and the sections that breathe are what create the musical arc.

How to use it

Reserve this for a concert that celebrates American music or as a showstopper finale that leaves the audience energized. Pair it with other concert band staples or more serious contemporary works to demonstrate your ensemble's range and versatility.