Because Smith avoids standard B-flat major for most of the piece (preferring E-flat minor, A-flat Lydian, and F Dorian), young trumpet players struggle with the "natural" vs. "flat" notes. This piece forces the band to listen vertically (chord to chord) rather than horizontally (note to note).

Composer: Lin-Manuel Miranda (songs)
Arranger: Robert W. Smith
Duration: ~9–12 minutes (varies by arrangement/version)
Instrumentation: Concert band (grade 3–4; adaptable)

Background and Context

Structure and Musical Content

  • Smith creates transitions that maintain momentum while moving between contrasting tempi, keys, and meters. Expect modulations, tempo shifts, and rhythmic retooling for concert band forces.

    • Instrumentation & Scoring Notes

    Performance Practice & Interpretation

    Educational Value

    Programming Suggestions

    Typical Challenges & Rehearsal Tips

    Suggested Listening (original sources)

    Copyright & Licensing

    Short Program Note (for concert programs) A lively medley of themes from Disney’s Encanto arranged for concert band by Robert W. Smith. Blending Colombian rhythms, Broadway-style melodies, and modern pop energy, this arrangement captures the Madrigal family’s warmth, humor, and emotional depth while showcasing rhythmic vitality and lyrical contrasts for the ensemble.

    — End —

    Note for Programmers: If your audience expects "We Don’t Talk About Bruno," you must clearly announce the difference.

    | Feature | Encanto (Robert W. Smith) | Encanto (Disney/Lin-Manuel Miranda) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Genre | Tone Poem / Concert Overture | Film Soundtrack / Musical Theatre | | Year | Early 2000s | 2021 | | Difficulty | Grade 3-4 (Medium Advanced) | Varies (Arrangements exist) | | Mood | Abstract, Majestic, Lyrical | Latin Pop, Folkloric, Narrative | | Requires | Solo Flute/Oboe, Horn Chorale | Vocalists, Piano, Latin Percussion |

    Pro Tip: If you program Smith’s Encanto, pair it with a Disney arrangement as a "before and after" of the word "magic."

    If you’ve ever listened to a wind band piece that felt more like a film score than a traditional march, you’ve likely experienced the work of Robert W. Smith. His piece, Encanto, is a shining example of what he called "cinematic music for the concert band."

    Tonight, as you listen to Encanto, close your eyes. You aren’t just in a concert hall; you are entering a hidden, lush village in the Spanish countryside.

    The Spanish word Encanto translates to “spell,” “charm,” or “magic.” But in the context of this piece, it refers to a place of profound beauty—a “magical” or “bewitching” space where reality feels suspended. Smith wasn’t writing about a specific plot; he was writing about a feeling of wonder.

  • Texture: Layered ostinatos, call-and-response between high and low woodwinds, and sudden tutti punctuations.

    • To successfully perform Robert W. Smith’s Encanto, ensure the following:

    Encanto (2024)
    Robert W. Smith (b. 1958)

    Duration: ca. 4:30
    Grade Level: 3 (Medium)

    Encanto captures the Spanish word for “charm,” “enchantment,” or “spell.” In this vibrant concert work, Robert W. Smith weaves Latin-infused rhythms, lyrical melodies, and dramatic brass fanfares to evoke the mysterious allure of a moonlit plaza, where magic and reality dance together.