WIND ENSEMBLE MUSIC
This page explores wind ensemble music and wind band repertoire, including wind orchestra pieces, concert band music, and symphonic band repertoire. Find wind ensemble sheet music, wind band scores, and resources for contemporary and classical wind music.
LOOSE CABOOSE
for wind ensemble
Duration:
9:00 minutes
Instrumentation:
4 Fl. (all double Piccolo); 4 Ob.;
4 Cl.; 4 Bn.; 2 SSx (doubling TSx);
2 ASx; 4 Hn.; 3 Tp.; 4 Trb.;
1 Euph. (optional); 1 Tb (optional);
2 Perc.;
2 Pianos
Year Composed:
2020
Written For:
Charles Peltz
Premiere Performance:
November 2021
Charles Peltz, conductor
New England Conservatory
Boston, USA
WIND ENSEMBLE REPERTOIRE
THEMES:
Program Notes:
When traveling by train, I enjoy sitting by the window and looking outside. When looking afar, the horizon moves rather slowly and in an oval-shaped line. When looking closer, the sharp angle presents a hectic, fast-changing, unpredictable visual effect. Over the years, I started viewing these visual experiences as sound events, ever-changing, merging, widening, closing up, and always colorful. The title refers to the unpredictability of events, much like how one cannot predict the next event while seated on a fast-moving loose caboose.
Loose Caboose is dedicated to Charles Peltz.
Score of Loose Caboose for wind ensemble
Essential Works for Wind Ensemble / Symphonic Band
1. Gustav Holst – First Suite in E-flat, Op. 28, No. 1 (1909)
Medium: Symphonic band
A foundational classic, Holst’s suite gave artistic legitimacy to the band medium, with elegant counterpoint and memorable melodies.
2. Gustav Holst – Second Suite in F, Op. 28, No. 2 (1911)
Medium: Symphonic band
Infused with English folk tunes, this vibrant suite remains a favorite for its dance-like rhythms and charming character.
3. Percy Grainger – Lincolnshire Posy (1937)
Medium: Wind ensemble
A masterpiece of folk adaptation, Lincolnshire Posy offers expressive and technical challenges with its rich harmonic language and asymmetrical rhythms.
4. Ralph Vaughan Williams – Toccata Marziale (1924)
Medium: Symphonic band
A bold and noble concert work emphasizing rhythmic drive and brass brilliance.
5. Paul Hindemith – Symphony in B-flat (1951)
Medium: Symphonic band
Hindemith’s rigorous, contrapuntal style gives this symphony lasting weight and importance in the band repertoire.
6. Vincent Persichetti – Symphony No. 6, Op. 69 (1956)
Medium: Wind ensemble
Lyrical, accessible, and forward-thinking, this work established Persichetti as a pillar of American wind music.
7. Morton Gould – West Point Symphony (1952)
Medium: Symphonic band
A ceremonial yet symphonic work that blends marches with jazz-influenced phrasing and colorful scoring.
8. Karel Husa – Music for Prague 1968 (1968)
Medium: Wind ensemble
An intense, dramatic response to political turmoil, this work uses extended techniques and layered symbolism.
9. Michael Colgrass – Winds of Nagual (1985)
Medium: Wind ensemble
Based on stories by Carlos Castaneda, this Pulitzer Prize-winning composer blends theatricality, color, and narrative into a deeply imaginative concert work.
10. John Harbison – Music for Eighteen Winds (1986)
Medium: Wind ensemble
Scored for a flexible chamber wind ensemble, this piece showcases Harbison’s lyrical lines and precise architectural pacing.
11. Alfred Reed – Armenian Dances, Part I (1972)
Medium: Symphonic band
A beloved classic, Reed's adaptation of Armenian folk tunes blends authenticity with orchestral vibrancy.
12. Frank Ticheli – Blue Shades (1997)
Medium: Wind ensemble
Infused with jazz harmony and swing rhythms, this piece is energetic, expressive, and full of personality.
13. John Mackey – Redline Tango (2004)
Medium: Wind ensemble
A virtuosic showpiece that blends rhythmic propulsion with modern orchestration and emotional depth.
14. Eric Whitacre – October (2000)
Medium: Wind ensemble
A meditative, lyrical work with lush harmonies that has become a staple in high-level band programming.
15. Donald Grantham – Southern Harmony (1998)
Medium: Symphonic band
Based on early American hymn tunes, this dramatic and spiritual work offers historical resonance and vivid colors.
16. Michael Daugherty – Niagara Falls (1997)
Medium: Symphonic band
Programmatic and cinematic, this high-energy piece is a crowd favorite for both players and audiences.
17. Yasuhide Ito – Gloriosa (1990)
Medium: Symphonic band
A major Japanese contribution to the band repertoire, combining chant-inspired themes with vibrant modern orchestration.