My Philosophy
Unfortunately band music isn't
always taken seriously, due in part to some of the "educational" music written today. Sometimes this music is written by composers to make the band sound good rather than enable them to learn something valuable. Now I'm not saying that all good music must be hard. Plenty of good music has been composed for band that is less difficult. There are entire books written about good Grade 1-3 pieces for younger players. It is our duty as music educators to sort out bad music and find worthwhile
repertoire.
The Realm of Wind Repertoire
Right now, bands and wind ensembles
primarily exist at the public school and collegiate levels. There
are very few professional wind bands. There are different theories
as to why this situation exists, but regardless of having professional
ensembles, the wind repertoire is still great. Many college ensembles
are the ones commissioning new works and are on the front edge of new music.
The wind realm is an exciting genre that allows composers to experiment
with many new and interesting types of sounds. This is the medium
on the frontier of music.
RESOURCES
Here are different places and
information regarding wind music, composers, and ensembles.
Repertoire Lists
Core Band Repertoire List by H. Robert Reynolds, Director of Bands at the University of Michigan. Mr. Reynolds was generous enough to share his lists with me and give me permission to post them here. *This is a VERY comprehensive list. I STRONGLY recommend looking at it.
Easier
Band Repertoire List by H. Robert Reynolds.
Roy Stehle has a site that I stumbled upon when searching for composers. He has been involved with band and his website has some repertoire lists, including one by Eastman Wind Ensemble Conductor Donald Husberger, recordings of various ensembles, and an extensive program notes section.
Oklahoma City
University Band Program Notes Database This is a very well organized and extensive list of program notes for band music. Thanks to Dr. Matthew Mailman, Director of Bands at OCU for sending me this link.
Resources for Wind Band Conductors is a page setup by a doctoral student. This site has a large repertiore list as well as an impressive bibliography of score analyses.
Concert Band WWW Resources has links to various repertoire, recording discographies, and discussion lists for band conductors.
*More links to repertoire are
on the way.
Top Wind Pieces in
no particular order
These represent the best of the
best in wind music.
Lincolnshire Posy by Percy
Aldridge Grainger
Symphony in B-flat by
Paul Hindemith
Music for Prague 1968
by Karel Husa
Emblems by Aaron Copland
Sinfonietta by Ingolf
Dahl
Hammersmith, Prelude and Scherzo
by Gustav Holst
The Passing Bell by Warren
Benson
Theme and Variations, op.43a by Arnold Schoenberg
Ensembles- wind ensembles, wind symphonies, and symphonic bands both professional and collegiate
Dallas Wind Symphony- one of the few professional bands in existence.
*More links to ensembles and composers coming
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This page last updated 4/22/99
Please send me your comments at brandonjones@geocities.com
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