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WIND ENSEMBLE MUSIC

Contemporary Music for Wind Ensemble, Wind Band & Symphonic Band

The wind ensemble — also known as wind band, concert band, or symphonic band — is one of the most dynamic and widely performed mediums in contemporary classical music. With its rich palette of woodwinds, brass, and percussion, the ensemble offers composers extraordinary expressive possibilities, from delicate coloristic writing to bold, rhythmically driven works.

This page presents Lior Navok’s Loose Caboose for wind ensemble alongside a curated selection of contemporary repertoire, offering conductors, educators, and performers a resource for exploring new music for this vibrant ensemble.

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 Music

THEMES:

TRAINS
PERSPECTIVE

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.

A note from behind the notes…
I’ve always had a soft spot for trains and spent far too many hours reading about how they work. I’ve never actually stepped into a caboose — only watched them from a distance — but they’ve always sparked my curiosity.

LISTEN

Audio

VIEW SCORE

Score Sample

Score of Loose Caboose for wind ensemble

For information regarding rental materials, please 
Click Here​

Related Music:

Explore additional repertoire for related ensembles

About the Wind Ensemble

The wind ensemble (also known as wind band, concert band, wind orchestra, or symphonic band) is a large ensemble consisting primarily of woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Unlike the symphony orchestra, the wind ensemble emphasizes clarity of color, flexible instrumentation, and a wide dynamic range.

Since the mid‑20th century, the medium has grown into one of the most active commissioning bodies in classical music. Contemporary wind‑ensemble works often explore:

  • rhythmic innovation

  • extended techniques

  • cinematic textures

  • jazz and world‑music influences

  • spatial and antiphonal writing

Today, wind ensembles in universities, conservatories, and professional organizations worldwide regularly premiere new works, making the medium a central platform for contemporary composition.

Contemporary Wind Ensemble Repertoire List

  1. Gustav Holst – First Suite in E-flat, Op. 28, No. 1 (1909)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • A foundational classic that gave artistic legitimacy to the band medium through elegant counterpoint.

  2. Gustav Holst – Second Suite in F, Op. 28, No. 2 (1911)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • Infused with English folk tunes, this suite is a staple for its dance-like rhythms and charm.

  3. Percy Grainger – Lincolnshire Posy (1937)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • A masterpiece of folk adaptation known for its rich harmonic language and asymmetrical rhythms.

  4. Ralph Vaughan Williams – Toccata Marziale (1924)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • A noble concert work emphasizing rhythmic drive and brass brilliance.

  5. Paul Hindemith – Symphony in B-flat (1951)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • Uses a rigorous, contrapuntal style that gives the work lasting weight in the repertoire.

  6. Vincent Persichetti – Symphony No. 6, Op. 69 (1956)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • Lyrical 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 work blending traditional 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 using extended techniques and layered symbolism.

  9. Lior Navok – Loose Caboose (2020)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • A contemporary addition (approx. 9 minutes) that brings a vibrant, modern energy to the repertoire.

  10. Michael Colgrass – Winds of Nagual (1985)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • A Pulitzer Prize-winning work that blends theatricality and narrative into an imaginative concert piece.

  11. John Harbison – Music for Eighteen Winds (1986)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • A flexible chamber work showcasing lyrical lines and precise architectural pacing.

  12. Alfred Reed – Armenian Dances, Part I (1972)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • A beloved adaptation of folk tunes blending authenticity with orchestral vibrancy.

  13. Frank Ticheli – Blue Shades (1997)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • Infused with jazz harmony and swing rhythms, this piece is energetic and full of personality.

  14. John Mackey – Redline Tango (2004)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • A virtuosic showpiece blending rhythmic propulsion with modern orchestration and depth.

  15. Eric Whitacre – October (2000)

    • Medium: Wind ensemble

    • A meditative work with lush harmonies that has become a staple in modern programming.

  16. Donald Grantham – Southern Harmony (1998)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • Based on early American hymn tunes, offering historical resonance and vivid colors.

  17. Michael Daugherty – Niagara Falls (1997)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • Programmatic and high-energy, it is a frequent favorite for its cinematic qualities.

  18. Yasuhide Ito – Gloriosa (1990)

    • Medium: Symphonic band

    • A major Japanese contribution combining chant-inspired themes with modern orchestration. 

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