Gemeinhardt Suite is a symphonic band suite composed by Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith

Robert W. Smith is an American composer, arranger, and teacher.-Biography:Smith was born in the small town of Daleville, Alabama on October 24 1958. He attended high school in Dadeville, after which he left for Troy State University, where he played lead trumpet in the Sound of the South Marching...

, in 1997. It was commissioned by, and dedicated to the Gemeinhardt Company

Gemeinhardt

Gemeinhardt Co. is the music industry's largest manufacturer of flutes and piccolos. These musical instruments are developed by this company for all levels of musicians, beginners to professionals.History of the Gemeinhardt Company...

, makers of all types of flute

Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...

s, and piccolos. It is scored for the typical wind orchestra, as well as an extended flute choir.

The piece is considered a staple in flute repertory

Flute repertory

Flute repertory is the general term for pieces composed for flute and often played by flautists. The following lists are not intended to be complete, but rather to present a representative sampling of the most commonly played and well known works in the genre...

, though it has been overshadowed by some of Smith’s other, more versatile works – as well as other older, and famous works from other composers. It is rated Medium-Advanced by J.W. Pepper. This composition is a contemporary concerto

Concerto

A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...

, one of two that Smith wrote, the other being the Willson Suite, for the euphonium

Euphonium

The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...

.

The entire suite is devoted to the flute family. It is divided into three movements: Carousel, Telling Stories to the Sea, and, Ceremony of Flute and Drum.

Movement One: “Carousel”

The first movement relies heavily on the woodwind

Woodwind instrument

A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...

 side of a concert band

Concert band

A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...

. Underneath an intricate flute solo, there are clarinet

Clarinet

The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...

s, and saxophone

Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...

s walking to a pleasant beat which sounds uncannily like a carousel

Carousel

A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...

. The solo flautist is given the choice of a technically demanding version, or a slightly simplified version. Either option involves long solos performed in free time with no meter. The movement only brings up the brass section two/three times before drawing to a loud close.

Movement Two: “Telling Stories to the Sea”

The second movement is playing by a moderately-sized extended flute choir. Along with the four-six C Flutes, 1 C piccolo, 1 bass flute, marimbas, bongos, and shakers are needed. The movement unravels quickly, giving a bass flute solo/flute solo/piccolo solo/flute solo before a rhythmically complex closing.

Movement Three: “Ceremony of Flute and Drum”

The final movement is similar (in formation) to the first, however, relies heavily, this time, on the brass/percussion section. It is a very earthy song dispersed with challenging, rapidly moving flute and other woodwind phrases, winding around blocks of the brass body. This movement is the most demanding of the entire concert-band out of all the movements, and the solo flautist is given quite the work-out, right up until the charged ending.