The Great Train Record - Racing the Pennsylvania Special: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Racing the Pennsylvania Special
By Robert W. Smith
Grade: 1.5
Item: 98-PK-RWS1809
$55.00
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Description
Harness the energy of a high speed locomotive race. This musical storytelling of "Racing The Pennsylvania Special" will be a hit with your students. Driving rhythms and train-like sonorities evoke images of a locomotive barreling down the track. Accessible for any young band and entertaining for all audiences.
Original Item#: RWS-1809-00
Original Item#: RWS-1809-00
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Additional Details
Series:
RWS - Beginning Band
Publisher:
RWS Music Company
SKU:
98-PK-RWS1809
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert W. Smith
Robert W. Smith stands among America's most frequently performed band and orchestra composers, with over 400 published works spanning concert hall, broadcast, and ceremonial contexts. His educational background includes a Bachelor's in Music Education from Troy State University in Alabama and a Master's degree from the University of Miami.
Smith's compositions have traveled globally, from performances across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia to high-profile media appearances including Olympic broadcasts, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Opening Day ceremonies at major league stadiums. His works for developing ensembles, including The Tempest and his symphonies The Divine Comedy and The Odyssey, have become staples in band programs worldwide. He has also conducted clinics and performances throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe.
Why we love this
Smith captures the raw energy of locomotive motion without overwhelming young players. The piece delivers genuine excitement through straightforward orchestration and memorable rhythmic figures, making it both musical and achievable for bands early in their development. Your students will feel like they've nailed something substantial.
What to expect
The piece propels forward with the relentless momentum of steel wheels on track, building images of speed and power through rhythmic drive rather than harmonic complexity. Audiences hear a story unfolding sonically, making this music memorable for listeners unfamiliar with band literature.
Who it's for
This work suits young concert bands navigating their first year or two of serious repertoire study. Directors seeking programmatic material that engages student interest while remaining within the technical reach of developing players will find immediate payoff here.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock in the foundational pulse first. The driving rhythms work only when the entire ensemble commits to a steady, unwavering tempo. Spend rehearsal time establishing that groove before layering details.
- Balance the train-like sonorities across your sections. The locomotive effect emerges from timbral clarity, not volume. Keep brass punchy and winds articulate so the effect reads as one cohesive sound.
- Encourage rhythmic independence in parts that move against the main pulse. Young players often want to follow the loudest line. Isolation and section rehearsal help each part maintain its own integrity.
How to use it
Open a concert with this selection to establish energy and grab audience attention from the opening moment. It pairs well in a program arc that moves from lighter, more programmatic work into more serious ensemble pieces, or stands alone as a crowd-pleasing finale for a young band showcase.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining steady pulse against rhythmic ostinatos in other sections
- Achieving clarity and articulation in rapid note passages
- Blending timbral colors to create a unified orchestral effect
- Reading and executing driving rhythmic patterns with consistent precision
- Responding to programmatic intent through musical phrasing and dynamics