Light concert music from Bernaerts, Chandos, DeHaske, Faber, Gramercy, Howard Snell, Kirklees, Lake Music, Novello, Obrasso, R Smith, Salvation Army, Studio Music, Windwood Music, Wright & Round and many, many more.
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Borodin Arranger: Geoff Colmer
This wonderful work has been very skillfully arranged for Brass Band. Some very controlled playing will be required so perform this stunning work that is dedicated to Franz Liszt, containing a simply gorgeous melody that runs throughout the piece. A welcome addition to any bands library.
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Arranger: Geoff Comer
This wonderful work has been very skillfully arranged for Brass Band. Some very controlled playing will be required so perform this stunning work that is dedicated to Franz Liszt, containing a simply gorgeous melody that runs throughout the piece. A welcome addition to any bands library.
Categories: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC, Howard Snell Music Composer: Johan Strauss Arranger: Howard Snell
Delightful French polka;featuring a cuckoo & a pistol
Please click on "MORE DETAILS" to view an image (PDF) of the Solo Cornet part.
Shooting (of hunting, shooting & fishing) is the theme here. The hunters stalk their game through the woods, no doubt dressed up in as complicated uniform as most brass bands don for contests, and proceed to shoot everything that moves. Johann Strauss the Younger even provides a sacrificial target bird for the end of the piece. For those of squeamish disposition, that is the moment to 'look away now'.
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Kenneth Hesketh
Infernal Ride is mercurial and virtuosic, reflecting the mad-cap chase of Ichabod Crane’s final ride on his horse, Gunpowder, in the story by Washington Irving, namely The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Often an atmosphere of driven fear pushes the music forward, only briefly stopping for breath. The work closes with flourishes in rapid succession, perhaps with the hapless Ichabod meeting his unfortunate end!
Brass Band Grade 5: 1st Section
Duration: 7 minutes.
Infernal Ride has been recorded by the Leyland Band, conducted by Jason Katsikaris, and is available on the CD Penlee, available to buy from this site by clicking here.
Grade equivalents for Brass Band test-pieces where there is considerable overlap at the higher levels, depending on the level of competition (local, regional or national):
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Kenneth Hesketh
Infernal Ride is mercurial and virtuosic, reflecting the mad-cap chase of Ichabod Crane’s final ride on his horse, Gunpowder, in the story by Washington Irving, namely The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Often an atmosphere of driven fear pushes the music forward, only briefly stopping for breath. The work closes with flourishes in rapid succession, perhaps with the hapless Ichabod meeting his unfortunate end!
Brass Band Grade 5: 1st Section
Duration: 7 minutes.
Infernal Ride has been recorded by the Leyland Band, conducted by Jason Katsikaris, and is available on the CD Penlee, available to buy from this site by clicking here.
Grade equivalents for Brass Band test-pieces where there is considerable overlap at the higher levels, depending on the level of competition (local, regional or national):
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer / arranger: Jan De Haan
This substantial work by Jan de Haan explores the many tonal qualities of the brass band. Following a quiet opening theme based on Phrygian tonality the band bursts into life with a massive climax. Following a jolly second theme characterised by large interval jumps peace and quiet is again restored. Both themes are developed with many poignant solo figures until we reach a resounding fortissimo climax with the solo cornet performing the first theme from the back of the auditorium. A spectacular concert work containing all the elements that bring out the best in brass band sound.
Category: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC Composer: Allan Botschinsky
Click on MORE DETAILS to listen to an audio extract from the original CD. Please note that the Brass Band arrangements have easier options included.
You can buy the CD FIRST BRASS on this website by clicking on the CD section and browsing for it.
The ground breaking CD FIRST BRASS was recorded by Allan Botschinsky, Derek Watkins,Bart van Lier and Erik van Lier in 1986. The original music was composed and arranged by
Allan Botschinsky for a 12 to 16 a capella brass ensemble. For its 25th anniversary the legendary format has now been arranged for FULL BRASS BAND.
In 2011, Nigel Durno, music editor for Just Music, collaborated with Allan Botschinsky and producer, Marion Kaempfert, to create Brass Band arrangements of the ten original tracks on the FIRST BRASS CD. This music was initially aimed to challenge brass players at the very highest level, but these new arrangements have been designed to make the music accessible to as many bands as possible.
Key Features of the Brass Band arrangements:
In creating the BB arrangements we have retained the original integrity of the music, while offering easier performance options (lower octave) for the Cornet section and Flugelhorn soloists.
While all the original Flugelhorn solos on the CD are printed out in full, parts with chord symbols are also included for soloists who want to improvise their own solos.
In addition, Allan Botschinsky has written some new solos which create a musical conversation between two soloists in the band, Flugelhorn and Eb Horn (Eb Alto Horn).
Alternative solo parts have also been created to feature different soloists in the band,i.e. 1st Trombone and Euphonium. Again, those solos are written out in full and cued,and will offer bands greater flexibility in the soloists they feature.
Composer and arranger, Adrian Drover, was commissioned
to write new additional percussion parts, to complete the
arrangements for full Brass Band.
All of the above will help make this unique set of ten pieces accessible and attractive for the many brass bands all over the world.
To view 
