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Hey all,

What type of good brass band music is out there for a brass band of the instrumentation:

1 Drummer
1 Tuba
1 Trombone
1 Trumpet
2 Sax?

If you know of any, for Sept. I'd like some almost pep band like tunes, for homecoming, as that this will be at a smaller college. The reason as to the instrumentation, is that I know that a full pep band couldn't be rounded up (especially at this time) for our homecoming game. If possible, it will grow to more of a band, but as a start, I think this should work.

Any pieces/advise?

tubaguy9 wrote:Hey all,

What type of good brass band music is out there for a brass band of the instrumentation:

1 Drummer
1 Tuba
1 Trombone
1 Trumpet
2 Sax?

From my European perspective your instrumentation fits well into the modular concept of the German Egerländer and Tyrolean bands.

They always have a drum part with their scores, so I will only list the manning of the wind parts.

The bass line comes in 3 versions: tuba 1 (high/F), tuba 2 (lower octave/BBb - preferable if only one tuba), string bass in contrabass notation.

The melody line is in the 1st flugelhorn. The 1st trumpet part from most editions may be used, as the flugelhorn-only sections are cued into that part.

The second part of the 3-part thickened melody line is in the 2nd flugelhorn (2nd trumpet similar to above) and in the alto sax part.

The 3rd part of the thick melody plus some counter melodies are in the 1st Bb Tenorhorn part plus in the tenor sax part.

The harmony/of-beat is set in 4 parts. 1st and 3rd horn carry the two upper lines. 2nd and 4th horn carry the lower parts, which also are covered by the 1st and 2nd trombones and by the 2nd and 4th Tenorhörner in Bb. It is within the tradition of the smallest set-up like yours only to cover the 1st horn or the 1st trombone. The latter has its own solos (cued in the Tenorhorn and tenor sax parts) and will join the tuba and the Tenorhorn/tenor sax in some bass solos. The harmony parts may be covered by accordion or keyboard.

There are additional parts for flute/piccolo, clarinets, and Bariton, but they are not parts of the basic modules. The Bariton usually doubles the melody in the lower octave and does the same countermelodies and bass solos as the 1st Tenorhorn.

One of the best edition houses is the one of the late Ernst Mosch, still carrying his name.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

They don't have saxophones in brass bands but I think I know what you are trying to say.

If you are just looking for some fun tunes to play a pep rallies and ball games, I might suggest some of the old march folios that pop up on Ebay once in a while. You didn't say whether you have alto or tenor saxophones but you would probably be better off with Bb (tenor) saxes so you can utilize either the baritone treble clef parts, the clarinet parts, and just use one sax on the tenor sax parts. Also, there are plenty of 'Hungry five' type of arrangements our there... two clarinets, one trumpet, one trombone, and one tuba. Just make up the drum part.

TubaTinker wrote:Just make up the drum part.

What a shocking suggestion! Would drummers ever do such a thing?

TubaRay wrote:What a shocking suggestion! Would drummers ever do such a thing?

As hinted the German band I played in played from German editions and all players were provided a folder of books. Our side drummer faithfully put the right book on the stand and even opened it at the right page. However he had no idea at all about reading music. He memorized the opening bars and always played the right patterns, which of course is quite common among drummers. However he somehow never got the forms of the trios right. He continued playing after the final beat. Silly in any respect, as we had conductors with very vivid beating and clear indications of pieces ending.

Our bass drummer/cymbal player was a strong contrast to the side drummer. Well over 50 he never had played anything but the heavy percussion. He read his music very securely and certainly was an asset for the band with his very exact playing and his drive. He obviously hated the side drummer's sloppiness and didn't help him in rehearsals, whereas he made sure things went well in performances. And there the side drummer had a strong side with out of town gigs: a large car. Good for our tubist and for me carrying three instruments as swing player among the small brasses.

Klaus

tubaguy9 wrote:Hey all,

What type of good brass band music is out there for a brass band of the instrumentation:

1 Drummer
1 Tuba
1 Trombone
1 Trumpet
2 Sax?

If you know of any, for Sept. I'd like some almost pep band like tunes, for homecoming, as that this will be at a smaller college. The reason as to the instrumentation, is that I know that a full pep band couldn't be rounded up (especially at this time) for our homecoming game. If possible, it will grow to more of a band, but as a start, I think this should work.

Any pieces/advise?

It sounds to me as if "brass band" isn't quite the word you were looking for. A better topic name may have allowed for different responses......

Your instrumentation reminds me of.....ska music anyone?

Wish I could have been more help for you though.

TubaRay wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:Just make up the drum part.

What a shocking suggestion! Would drummers ever do such a thing?

The acronym D R U M simply means "Doesn't Really Understand Music".

Combo Blasters from Alfred Publishing available through J.W.Pepper might be just what you need. When I have to do a small band gig, and do not have full instrumentation... these fill the bill.
Here are the tunes from Pepper's website:

COMBO BLASTERS - Song List
(for Pep Band)

2362002 CELEBRATION
GIMME SOME LOVIN
LOUIE, LOUIE
MACARENA
OH, PRETTY WOMAN
OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL
PROUD MARY
SING, SING, SING
SMOKE ON THE WATER
SOUL MAN
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
TEQUILA
TWIST AND SHOUT

MORE COMBO BLASTERS - Song List

Chattanooga Choo Choo; Children of Sanchez; Conga; Dragnet; Happy Birthday; Hawaii Five-O; The Hey Song; In the Midnight Hour; James Bond Theme; Jeepers Creepers; Jungle Boogie; Margaritaville; Smooth; The Star Spangled Banner and Winter Wonderland.

Combo Blasters part 3

5711817 ALL NIGHT LONG
BAD TO THE BONE
EYE OF THE TIGER
GONNA FLY NOW ROCKY THEME)
HANG ON SLOOPY
HORSE, THE
HOT HOT HOT
LA BAMBA
PETER GUNN
RESPECT
RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE

Just to give an idea on where I got the instrumentation idea:
Like I said, I know I couldn't get a full band. But, the thought came from Youngblood Brass Band. My thought behind the sax players is to preferably be alto and tenor, but maybe be flex players, to be able to play other saxes, too.