The Great Steamboat Race: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Robert W. Smith
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0002212
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Description
You will smell the smoke and feel the mist on your face. This innovative work by renowned composer Robert W. Smith musically recounts a famous race between two paddle boats, the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez, on the Mississippi River during the summer of 1870. It's everything you expect. Don't miss this dynamic new work. (4:34)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Great Steamboat Race: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts 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 Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
380
SKU:
00-PK-0002212
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among the most frequently performed American composers for concert band and orchestra, with more than 400 published works distributed primarily through Alfred Music. He holds degrees from Troy State University in music education and the University of Miami in music composition, and his original works have been premiered and recorded across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Smith's catalog includes symphonies, tone poems, and works for developing ensembles that have become repertoire standards. His compositions and arrangements have reached audiences far beyond the concert hall, appearing in Olympic broadcasts, presidential ceremonies in Japan, television network productions, and major sporting events. As a guest conductor and clinician, he has worked with ensembles throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe.
Why we love this
Smith crafts a narrative you can actually hear unfolding measure by measure, complete with the sensory details that make this more than just pretty sounds. A Grade 2 band tackles genuine musical storytelling without drowning in technical complexity, which means your students stay engaged with the music rather than their fingerings.
What to expect
Atmospheric and cinematic, opening with the quiet mystery of the river before building into the energy and competition of the famous race. You hear paddle wheels churning, the spray of river water, and the determination of two boats pushing toward victory.
Who it's for
Beginning to intermediate concert bands seeking a Grade 2 work with genuine musical substance and dramatic arc. Directors want accessible repertoire that still tells a story worth telling and gives students something memorable to perform at festivals or in concert.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the narrative sections so thematic material stands out clearly; the race itself needs to feel urgent, but the atmospheric passages around it set the stage effectively.
- Pay attention to dynamic contrast between the two boat themes, giving each personality so the competition reads as a real event unfolding.
- Allow breath time in the opening, letting your ensemble settle into the misty river atmosphere before the action accelerates.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece on a concert that pairs well with other Americana repertoire, or choose it for a festival appearance where a Grade 2 ensemble needs to sound engaged and confident. The historical narrative and runtime make it substantial enough to anchor a set without dominating the program.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic control and contrast (soft atmospheric passages to powerful climactic moments)
- Thematic development (recognizing and maintaining separate melodic identities)
- Stylistic clarity in programmatic writing
- Balance and blend in full band passages
- Phrasing across sectional changes