tpter1

This was run over on Th a while back, and I thought it might be interesting here, too.

What are some of your favorite wind ensemble/symphonic band pieces? Either performed or heard qualifies. If you played it, what part did you play?


I'll start things off, in no particular order:
La Fiesta Mexicana, H. Owen Reed (played first trumpet)
Othello, Alfred Reed (played first cornet)
March from Symphonic Metamorphosis, Hindemith
Symphony in Bb, Hindemith
Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Paganini, (played first trumpet)
Niagra Falls (can't remember the composer's name)
Sensemaya, mexican composer I can't remember right now, trumpet 3
Lord of the Rings, Johann De Meij (Specific movement is Gollum..hardest thing I've seen!) (played trumpet 4, I think...3rd gray hair from the left has taken some memory cells away!)

timcates

two others that popped into my head (love everything on your list):

Grainger - Lincolnshire Posey - 2nd movement - just beautiful
Warren Benson - The Leaves Are Falling

bandman

I've been playing in, or directing bands since 1964. After reading the post that started this thread I chose to sit with my wife and reminisce about great pieces that I have either played or directed. Most of them are either from high school or college when I was playing in some pretty good bands. A few of them (4) are pieces I did with my junior high school band, but I thought they were true American classics.

I chose to include two pieces I love by Anne McGinty who is one of my very favorite composers. Some of you may have never heard of Anne. She writes for all levels from middle school (Legend of the Eagle was a commission for my band) to the United States Army Band. "Tis a gift" is a tribute to the three band members from Montoursville, Pennsylvania, Area High School who tragically lost their lives aboard TWA Flight 800. Hall Of Heroes was a commission by the band to celebrate the centennial of the West Point Band at the United States Military Academy.

You all may not agree with my 20 pieces, but this is based on my opinion. I guess if we were to list them all each of us would have a list hundreds of selections long. I just picked composers who I loved and listed the pieces that are my favorites.


Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo – Malcom Arnold
Elegy – John Barnes Chance
Blue Lake – John Barnes Chance
Incantation and Dance – John Barnes Chance
Balladaire – Frank Erickson
Aire for Band – Frank Erickson
Irish Tune from County Derry – Percy Grainger
Lincolnshire Posey – Percy Grainger
On a Hymn Song of Phillip Bliss – David Holsinger
On The Grand Praire Texas – David Holsinger
First Suite in E-flat for Military Band – Gustav Holst
Second Suite for Military Band in F Major – Gustav Holst
Variations on America – Charles Ives
Third Suite – Robert Jager
Hall Of Heroes – Anne McGinty
“tis a Gift” – Anne McGinty
Russian Christmas Music – Alfred Reed
Armenian Dances (Parts I & 2) – Alfred Reed
Fanfare and Allegro – Clifton Williams
Symphonic Dance No. 3, Fiesta – Clifton Williams

silverstar

My favorites:

Festive Overture, Dimitri Shostakovich (third trumpet)
La Fiesta Mexicana (Second and third trumpet... long story)
Incantation and Dance (second trumpet)
Moorside March, Holst (second trumpet)
Easter Monday on the White House Lawn, Sousa (third trumpet)
La Inglesina, don't remember who, (third trumpet)
Ye Banks and Braes Oh Bonny Doon, Granger (third trumpet)
Satirical Dances, don't remember by who, (third trumpet)

There were more, but I can't remember what they were...

Lara

trumpet blower88

Ok, first I'll start off with the songs in our perfomance at Carnegie, all 4 just happen to fall into my favorites.

* JOYRiDE, by M. J. Markouski (2nd)
* Lord of the Rings, by Johann De Meij (2nd)
* Irish Tune from County Derry, by Percy Grainger (1st Cornet)
* Redline Tango, by John Macky (4th)

Now for the others:

* October, by Eric Whitacre (I think this is #1 overall) (1st)
* Ballad for Band, can't remember composers name (3rd)
* First Suite in Eb, by Gustav Holst (1st Flugel)
* Fifth Suite: Mvt 4 "Hora", by Alfred Reed (1st Trumpet)
* Hounds of Spring, by Alfred Reed (2nd Trumpet)
* Niagra Falls, can't remember composers name (2nd)
* Into the Light, can't remember composer (1st)
* American Salute (was it written for band or orchrestra first?) (2nd Cornet)
* Vesuvius, by Frank Tichellie (1st in marching band/2nd in symphonic band)
* Postcard, by Frank Tichellie (2nd)
* Songs of Sailor and Sea, by Robert W. Smith (1st Cornet)
* Pusta, by Jan Vander Roost (1st Cornet)
* Windsprints, by Richard Sausatoe(sp?) (1st)
* Divertimento for Band, Perschecettie(sp?) (1st Cornet)

I could go on and on, but I should really stop...

Tootsall

Oh man... so many great pieces. You've already mentioned some of my favorites but I"ll add some more:

Newfoundland Rhapsody
Quebec Folk Songs
Ontario Sketches
McIntyre Ranch Country... all by Howard Cable
Shenandoah... Tichelli
Hockey Night In Canada...(what else did you expect? Not difficult at all but just plain "set back and let 'er rip FUN"...who needs music for this one?

You know, something Bandman said just triggered this thought... I really should keep a log of pieces we play from year to year! Starting with the current year's list.

Present folder (2nd trumpet mostly with some 1st)

An unreleased, semi-secret one in four movements celebrating the cowboy, by Howard Cable due for premiere this October
Alte Kameraden Marsch, Teike
Ammerland, de Haan
Carnaval in Sao Paulo, Barnes
First Suite in Eb, Holst
First Suite in F, George
Freishutz Quickstep, Grafulla
He's Gone Away, Allen
Home Stretch, Anderson
Largo, Dvorak (Rager)
Malaguena, Lecuona (Nestico)
O Canada (three different arrangements)
Ode and Epinicion, Curnow
Old Churches, Colgrass
Praise To The Lord (Antiphonal Trumpets & Concert Band), Nelhybel
Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo, Arnold
Raiders March, Williams
St. Thomas, Rollins (Brown)
633 Squadron, Goodwin
Standard of St. George March, Alford (Gore)
Them Basses, Huffine
Under the Double Eagle, Wanger (Glover)
Windsprints, Saucedo
Yama Midori, Barnes
Zampa Overture, Herold

Yup, that's this year's list minus the Christmas stuff. (I keep my music in alphabetical order... can you tell?)

pmkt16

My Favorites...
Persichetti Symphony No 6 for Band
Lincolnshire Posey
Armenian Dances
Aegean Overture
Niagra Falls
Festive Overture

There are bunch of others that I'm forgetting but I'll leave it at that for now.

iguananaught

Licolnshire Posy is a blast.

Niagara Falls was written by Michael Daugherty. I think I spelled his last name wrong.

londonhusker

deleted

bandman

L'Inglesina is by Davide Delle Cese. It means The Little English Girl and is a wonderful piece that is a March that sounds like the Overture to an Opera! Great selection there Lara!!! Not super well known either! From your list it is obvious you play in a pretty darn good band program!