Famous music pieces of wind orchestra(Japanese composers)

Today I'd like to talk about pieces composed by Japanese composers.

1.Fantasy on Osaka Folk Tunes


Hiroshi Ohguri



 The composer of this piece is Hiroshi Ohguri. This piece is originally composed for Berlin Philharmonic. Later he arranged this for wind orchestra, then a lot of bands play this not only concert but also band competition.

 He expressed the atmosphere of Osaka by using the theme of nursery rhymes, shomyo, gidayuu, festival songs, all of which are very amiable for the local people. By his style, he was called "Eastern Bartók."

Fantasy on Osaka Folk Tunes:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tirgqn6AI9o



Hiroshi Hoshina



2.Fu-mon

 The composer is Hiroshi Hoshina. Although this was orginally a required piece for Japan band competition in 1987, many bands play this piece today. At that time, people said that "Playing this piece is easy, but it seems to continue with no end in sight to master." One version aimed to play as a required piece is shortened to match the limit time of the competiton, the other version, composed in 1999, is the primary version he thought at first.

 It starts calmly, and both melody and motif of this piece are brought up.

Famous music pieces of wind orchestra(foreign composers)

As I tell you before, there are a lot of music pieces which was composed for wind orchestra. I'm going to tell you some of these pieces which I like very much.

1. First Suite for Millitary Band, Second Suite for Millitary Band


Gustav Holst



 These two pieces are composed by Gustav Holst(English composer, 1874-1934), and these are his early works. First Suite consists of "Chaconne," "Intermezzo," and "March." The all theme come from Chaconne. Second Suite is based on English folk songs and dance musics, so we can guess that he was very interested in these musics.

First Suite:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngTnToAs4uU

Second Suite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nz7tvRdL94

2. Armenian Dances



Alfred Reed(1921-2005)

 Armenian Dances were composed by "Alfreed Reed," an American composer in 20th century. Armenian dances include "Armenian Dance part 1," and "Armenian Dance part 2."

Part 1 consists of five sections: "Tzirani Tzar(The Apricot Tree), " "Gakavi Yerk (The Partridge's Song)," "Hoy, Nazan Eem (Hoy, My Nazan)," "Alagyaz," "Gna, Gna (Go,Go)." The first play is on January 10, 1973, by University of Illinois Symphonic Band.

Part 2 consists of three sections,"Hov Arek," "Khoomar," "Lorva Horovel." The first play is on April 4, 1976 , by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band, too.

 As you can see, these two pieces are based on Armenian folk songs, gathered by Komitas Vardapet. In Japan, they have been famous for over thirty years since they were composed, and especially part 1 is often played from amateur band to professional band.

Percussion section

Percussion section plays a very important role in wind orchestra. There are countless kinds of instruments, so I will introduce limited kinds of percussion.

1. Timpani
　We regard four Timpani　as one set. It is usually made of copper. In the past, it was tuned by the tension of membranae.　In these days, it is tuned by the pedal, so it becomes easy to tune.





2. Marimba
 The keyboards are made of wood, and are broad and thick, so the sound is very deep. The pitch extent was originally four octaves, then stretched to four and a half by the improvement by YAMAHA(Japanese instrument maker), at last, extended to five octaves by "Marimba one."




3. Drums

Drums are used in many types of popular music, and needless to say, it is fundamental instruments when we play popular music by wind orchestra. The play style is very different among people, but the normal formation is "bass drum," "floor tom," "snare drum," "toms," "hi-hat cymbal," "cymbal."

Wood Wind instruments

1. Flute

In wind orchestra, flutes made of metal is used, but flutes are "wood wind" instrument. In normal orchestra, flutes made of wood are also used. This metal type of flute invented by Theobald Bohm, German musician.

2. Clarinet

 In the beginning of 18th century, Christian Denner altered chalumeau, which was used in France. This is the origin of today's clarinet.　There are a lot of kinds of size of clarinets. In wind orchestra, piccolo clarinet, soprano clarinet, bass clarinet is usuallu used, and alto clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, and contrabass clarinet are often used.

3. Saxophone

alto saxophone

 In 1840s, Antoine-Joseph Adolphe Sax, who was Belgic instruments maker, invented Saxophones. Saxophone is usually called "Sax," so I'm going to call Sax too. Sax are also used in jazz or big　band. It was planned to work as a bridge between brass instruments and wood wind instruments.

4. Double Reed instruments


In wind orchestra, oboe and bassoon are often used. Oboe was the first wind instrument which was added to normal orchestra. In the Guinness Book of Records, oboe was written as "the most difficult wood wind instruments." The total length of the pipe is about as long as 260 centimeters.

Brass instruments

In this article, I will talk about "brass instruments."

1. Trumpet

In brass instruments, trumpet has the highest range. We can change notes by using piston system. It is about 1815 when  piston system was invented. Until then, "natural trumpet," which had no pistons, was used.

2. Trombone

In wind instruments, only trombone has slide system. Due to this system, trombone can change notes freely. We can play "glissando playing," which play different notes without cutting between two notes.

3. Horn

This instruments originally come from "Horn," which was made of animals' horn. Many instruments include the name "horn" until now, which means that horn has played a big role until now.

4. Euphonium

 In 1843, Ferdinand Sommer, who was the concert master of Weimar, invented "Sommerophone," which is said as the origin of Euphonium. By his playing it hard, a lot of instrument makers improves and invented today's "Euphonium." Its pitch extent is as high as trombone's one, but sounds of euphonium is more softly than that of trombone.

5. Tuba

 Tuba generally has the lowest pitch extent in wind instruments. Today's tuba appeared in 19th century for the first time. Wilhelm Wieprecht, who was the leader of Prussia bandmaster, and Johann Gottfried Moritz, who was the instrument maker in Berlin, invented first tuba. By the middle of 19th century, Adolphe Sax made tuba what it is now.

The difference of wind ochestra among countries

The formation of wind orchestra of each country has each characteristics. In Europe, we can see traditional influence in each formation.
For example, in France and Italy, they put emphasis on the sound of wood wind instruments. In Austria and Germany, they add brass instrument to play solidly and heavily. In USA, by American Bandmasters Association(ABA), the standard of band formation was made, and they obey it. For example, they use Euphonium instead of tener horn which is used in Germany.
In Japan, the army sent for trainer in France at that time. However, the navy sent for England and Germany. Owing to that reason, both formations, terms, sounds existed at that time. Later, Japanese Band Directors Association made standard formation of Japan, and it recommended obeying the standard.
In England, "British brass band" had developed. It mainly consists of brass instruments. It sounds beautifully and brightly, like organ. In addition, it is demanded super technics and overwhelming dynamics.