Brass Band questions

[gogreen]

I must be missing something when it comes to brass bands. I'd like to write for brass bands, but it just seems to me there would be an awful lot of doubling. Am I wrong about this? Can anyone suggest some exemplary brass band music with scores I might follow? Thanks.

[amateurchurcharranger]

So there's this really good brass band from my hometown that has a ton of video performance recordings online ... no scores, but I don't know to what extent you can put things together by listening: http://www.lancasterbbb.org/

I've never tried to write anything for a brass band, nor have I played in more than a quintet, but I agree ... it's an interesting genre. Intrigued to hear if others have thoughts.

[mjw58]

I’m not any good in writing for brass band. I did write all the pieces I published in Belgium for brass band and fanfare band as well as Concert band, but I didn’t have enough experience to do it right I think. It’s a craft on its own.

There are usually a fixed number of players, and many similar instruments in a brass band. There are two rows of cornets, but they are split up in different parts.

One has to think of the range and timber of different instruments and how they can be put together to produce different sound effects.

In a wind ensemble the woodwinds usually have all the runs but in a brass band the different brass instruments have to do it theme selves. Therefore you will see a quite different use of instruments. At least in the higher grade levels.

Here’s a link that explains all this further.

https://www.bandsman.co.uk/writing.htm

Here’s a link to scores. It’s a German site but just type in brass band or title and you can download a PDF and listen to the piece. There may be other sites as well.

https://www.blasmusik-shop.de

You can also look at Hal Leonard Brass Band on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXaF8hZUztMmqeIvHhI3fQw

I hope this can be of help. 

Morten

[gogreen]

Morten: Thanks for the links!

[flint]

One advantage of brass bands is that the size of the ensemble and the instrumentation is fixed, unlike a concert band, where you can't even know if certain parts will be played at all.

[EdSharpe]

How to Write for Brass Bands

https://www.bandsman.co.uk/writing.htm

Pretty Good Primer on Brass Bands and writing for them.


Brass Band Sheetmuisc

http://www.scoreexchange.com/instrumentations/brass-band.html

Symphony for Brass Band by David Carter

1st Movement: http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/82235.html
2nd Movement: http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/82304.html
3rd Movement: http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/40765.html
4th Movement: http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/68764.html

[Periwink]

Konzertmuzik by Hindemith for brass and strings, has lots of moments where there's only the brass playing. Superb writing lot's to learn. Video with score: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3f_-rJQ_Os

[gogreen]

Thanks, Ed and Periwink.

[Periwink]

I heard today by chance that Philip Sparke is a very well received composer/arranger for brass band (considered 'brass band god'), there are plenty of scores by him on youtube to follow: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=philip+sparke+score

[amateurchurcharranger]

Concurring, Sparke is definitely a prolific and talented brass band writer. Played a piece of his recently. Good stuff.

[gogreen]

Thanks, Ben and again, Periwink. I don't have time at the moment to study this material, but it's on my to-do list!

[mjw58]

About Brass band.

I found this on Youtube. May be a startingpoint for composers who will compose for Brass Band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGyuehvBFbE

Morten

[mjw58]

For those interested.

Here are some videos from youtube.
It’s a piece by one of my favourite composers Philip Sparke. It’s called “Music Of The Spheres”.
Written for Brass Band, Fanfare and Wind Band.

I just love this piece. The slow part at the end (after the tubular bells) brings tears to my eyes every time.

I thought these videos of the same piece would show the difference between these band types.

Brass Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjzMB9quuzA

Fanfare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs52Fqu-suM

Wind Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGp_7-AAaTU

Morten

[gogreen]

Nice brass band video tutorial, Morten. And "Music of the Spheres" totally blew me away.  Thanks.

[mjw58]

I'm glad you liked "Music of the spheres". Fantastic isn't it.
The Ryukoku symphonic band does a fantastic job.

Even though brass band has “limitations” regarding instruments I feel that good composers manage to use the different instruments capabilities to the full. I feel Philip Spark takes his background from brass band and use brass instruments in wind band the same way.

Morten