Wind Band Literature

A Conductor's Perspective by Andy Pease

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Wind Band Literature takes a close look at the best of the wind band repertoire, from chamber music to huge symphonic works, from beginning band to professional level. It is not a comprehensive repertoire site, but rather a collection of resources compiled and created by conductor Andy Pease. These are tools to share with students and colleagues to help enhance understanding of what makes the music we play so powerful and meaningful to us.

Featured content for Spring 2024:

 

Since I conduct two standing groups that use this page a lot, I’ve started up new dedicated pages for them! Check them out:

Hartwick College Wind Ensemble

Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble

 

My other engagements will show up in this space. This spring, I’m lucky to have quite a few of them! I’ll start in Troy, NY with Rensselaer All County Band on January 27. The rep is:

Joy Revisited – Frank Ticheli

Chasing Sunlight – Cait Nishimura

American Riversongs – Pierre LaPlante

A Galop to End All Galops – Warren Barker

 

I’ll go to Ithaca for the CBDNA Eastern Division Conference on February 22-24, then on to Syracuse for the NYSBDA Symposium on March 1-3. Then I go to the Hudson Valley for the Ulster All County Band on March 9, playing this outstanding lineup:

Gavorkna – Jack Stamp

One Life Beautiful – Julie Giroux

Halcyon Hearts – Katahj Copley

Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo – Malcolm Arnold, arr. Paynter

 

The following weekend I’m back closer to home in Richfield Springs, NY for the Herkimer All County Band. They’ll play:

Journey Through Orion – Julie Giroux

Some treasures are heavy with human tears – John Mackey

Sunny-Side Up – Michael Markowski

New Wade N Water – Adolphus Hailstork

 

At the beginning of April, I’ll have the honor of being a guest clinician with the Westhill High School Wind Ensemble on their trip to New York City. We’ll meet some great friends in White Plains on the way down! Repertoire TBD.

I’ll be back in the Hudson Valley for the last week in April. I’ll lead the Orange Elementary All County Band on April 27. They will be working on:

Majestica – Brian Balmages

Chester Variations – Elliot Del Borgo

Appalachian Whisper – Jennifer McDonel

Three Songs of Bengal – Aakash Mittal

 

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7 thoughts on “Home

    1. Great question – the short answer is that classical music often uses large numbers of people, sometimes over 100 in a single performance. Ensembles that large (and even much smaller groups) need a single leader both to stay together and to develop a common vision of the music, hence the conductor. As for classical music without conductors, I would refer you to any small chamber group (e.g., brass quintet or woodwind quintet), as well as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, a larger group which famously never uses a conductor.

    2. Conducting asked, it is possible to have a classical concert without a conductor. The answer is “Yes”. It just means that the musicians count well and listen to each other well. They will need someone in rehearsal but can work without one in performance.

  1. I’m really glad to have read your list of forthcoming concerts and the literature with composers and arrangers. As a Euphonium (primary) and Trombone (secondary) player, I am always striving to learn new music as well as listen to Symphonic Bands/Concert Bands/Wind Ensemble/Brass Ensemble with outstanding musicians. Listening to them is inspirational and motivational for always wanting to be a better Player. I presently live in Kenosha, WI and unfortunately, would not be able to attend your concerts. Will they be posted on YouTube or anywhere I can watch, listen, and learn?

  2. Dear Andy,

    Your site is wonderful. Hoping I’m still a member. If not, tell me what I need to do to renew my membership.

    I’m writing now to correct the spelling of my name under Performances (of Sousa’s Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March). Here’s how it is listed:

    California State University, Sacramento, Wind Ensemble (Robert Hespeth, conductor) – 9 April 2016

    I prefer my name spelled Robert Halseth. Thanks.

    BTW, my father, Alden Halseth, graduated from Crookston High School in 1929, couldn’t find work in northern Minnesota, so took a bus to Minneapolis where he worked on the brass fittings of the windows for the soon-to-be dedicated Foshay Tower building. Every time I play this piece, I dedicate it to him.

    Bob

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