List of concert band literature

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of some of the standards of wind band repertoire.

Contents

[edit] Original works

While creating a list of repertoire is subject and involves a certain amount of bias, this is an inclusive list of some of the standard works written specifically for Concert Band or Wind Ensemble.

[edit] Cornerstone works

The following works are some of the most universally respected and established cornerstones of the band repertoire. All have "stood the test of time" through decades of regular performance, and many, either through an innovative use of the medium or by the fame of their composer, helped establish the wind band as a legitimate, serious performing ensemble.

[edit] Not quite cornerstone works

These pieces may not necessarily be quite as universally acknowledged as the above list, but occupy an extremely important place in the repertoire nonetheless. Like the previous works, they have proven themselves through many performances, most over a span of decades.

[edit] Recent works (At least ten years old)

The following works are rapidly gaining acceptance as standard repertoire. Please note that these are at least ten years old, separating them from the extremely new works in the following category. It takes a while before a piece can be said to have entered the accepted repertoire.

[edit] New Works (Less than ten years old)

The following new works are currently enjoying frequent performances. Please note that these are not even ten years old, separating them from works with a longer history. It takes a while before a piece can be said to have entered the accepted repertoire, while time can only tell the fate of these pieces, they are relevant to the performance history of today.

[edit] Transcriptions

There are thousands of transcriptions of pieces from other media (mostly orchestra) available for the concert band; however, some transcriptions are performed so often that they can be said to have achieved a place of the own in the concert band repertoire. Here are some of the most commonly performed:

Note: there are a few pieces, such as the Schuman "New England Triptych", that the composer himself transcribed for band. This list deals only with transcriptions made by others.

[edit] Recordings of Concert Band Literature

The Klavier Wind Recording Project, begun in 1989 by Eugene Corporon while he was director of bands at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, has helped provide recordings of many of the most important and more recent pieces in the wind band literature.