Wind Ensemble Music

While orchestras hold the prominent place in terms of professional concerts, wind bands dominate the education system in the U.S.(largely because it's easier to get the instrumentation. Having a ratio of 20 violins and 10 cellos or so to two of each wind and maybe three or four percussionists if hard in schools, unless you make almost everyone play a string instrument). Many of us on the forum(I have and still do) who have participated in instrumental music in schools have probably played in a wind band of some sort, either marching band or wind ensemble/concert band. What are some of your favorite pieces that you have either heard or played?

Off the top of my head some of my favorites

Percy Grainger - "Lincolnshire Posy"
Darius Milhuad - "Suite Francais"
Johan de Meij - Symphony no. 1 "Lord of the Rings"
Ingolf Dahl - "Sinfonietta"
Roger Nixon - "Reflections"
James Hirt - "Fire in the Heavens"
Persichetti - "Symphony for Band"
Hindemith - "Symphony in Bb"
and since there has to be a march: Samuel Barber - "Commando March"

There was one piece I remember that required about 12 percussionists stationed at specific spots throughout the entire auditorium for a helicopter effect...

I think it was called Inchon. Very, very simple piece actually (for the trumpet anyway).

I cant remember the name of the composer.

I like this. It certainly isn't some fancy piece of classical music, but it's still good stuff.

The "Miss Saigon" arrangement has helicopter sounds, though I don't know of any other wind band pieces off the top of my head that do.



It's not a question of fancy classical music. That's just some sort of flute ensemble piece, not a wind band piece. I have played video game music scored for wind band before. Some of it is quite good, some of it isn't.