Concert band
On rare occasions, additional, non-traditional instruments may be added to such ensembles such as piano, synthesizer, or electric guitar.
Wind instruments at that time were often difficult to play in tune and had difficulty in switching pitch and rhythm fast enough.
[4] This in turn influenced bands to stick with pieces that were transposed from orchestral movements and arrangements, something that has carried into modern day.
During the 19th century, large ensembles of wind and percussion instruments in the British and American traditions existed mainly in the form of the military band for ceremonial and festive occasions, and the works performed consisted mostly of marches.
[citation needed] It wasn't until the early 20th century that composers began writing works for concert band.
Other composers of this time period include Ralph Vaughan Williams, Richard Wagner, and Aaron Copland.
The modern "standard" instrumentation of the wind ensemble was more or less established by Frederick Fennell at Eastman School of Music as the Eastman Wind Ensemble in 1952 after the model of the orchestra: a pool of players from which a composer can select in order to create different sonorities.
A wider range of instruments was employed to play transcriptions of orchestral works, the bulk of the early wind band repertoire.
The competition to make it into one of these concert bands is incredibly high and the ratio of performers to entrants is narrowly small.
Although they are volunteer musical organizations, community bands may employ an artistic director (conductor) or various operational staff.
[9] This meant that many amateurs could now form a town band, their arrangements typically consisting of patriotic tunes, marches, and popular music.
United Kingdom Canada Australia Norway Portugal Finland A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together.
[16] The use of a harp dates back to its inclusion in the professional and military bands of John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman.
[17] Notably, the United States Air Force Band scores for cellos, a practice unique to the ensemble that dates back to the tenure of director George S.
For example, several pieces call on the use of a siren while others will ask players to play recorders, whirly tubes, or to sing, hum, snap, clap or even crinkle sheets of paper.
The wind band's diverse instrumentation and large number of players makes it a very flexible ensemble, capable of producing a variety of sonic effects.
Until early in the 20th century, there was little music written specifically for the wind band, which led to an extensive repertoire of pieces transcribed from orchestral works, or arranged from other sources.
Some of the most important people in establishing literature written specifically for concert band in the early and middle 20th century were:
