What's your favorite brass band transcription?

[Steve Marcus]

For me, definitely the Eric Ball Enigma Variations and the Planets.

I haven't played the Eric Ball transcriptions of these pieces, but I can imagine that they're very effective.

A transcription of Venus and Jupiter was the Test Piece for the British Open(?) a few years ago. There was some heated discussion at the time as to whether a Test Piece should or shouldn't be restricted to one written specifically and originally for brass band.

Chicago Brass Band played a transcription (by Wright?) of the 4th movement of the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4. Great impact on the audience and, of course, much more busy tuba parts than the orchestral original.

The transcription of Pines of the Appian Way makes for an impressive ending of any brass band concert.

[Dan Schultz]

Two years ago, one of our brass band members did a transcription of Rodrigo's Concierto Adagio that's very good. We're currently doing a Howard Shnell arrangement of 'Candide' that's pretty challenging.

[Chadtuba]

The librarian of the Colorado Brass Band did an arrangment of "Hymnsong on a Philip Bliss" for us a couple of years ago. It's one of my favorite concert band pieces and I was very honored to be a part of the premier of the brass band arrangement.

[peter birch]

the Salvation Army has in its journals a great transcription of the 1st movement of Schuberts 8th("unfinished") symphony. it is by a composer called George Marshall. It is a truly faithful transcription, with no alterations in the musical text. it has 2 great tuba lines for EEb and BBb instruments.

[Jack Denniston]

We're working on a couple good ones right now. Phillip Sparke's arrangement of Four Dances from the Nutcracker is lots of fun to play, and Michael Votta's arrangement of O' Magnum Mysterium is just gorgeous.

[UTTuba_09]

Derek Broadbent's arrangement of The Floral Dance, a brass band classic!

[sc_curtis]

We just performed La Forza del Destino tonight. It was very challenging for everybody in the group, but it had tremendous rewards as well. I generally don't like transcriptions too much, since I prefer the way is was intended, but this was very fun.

The tuba parts were way more involved (I know, duh!) than the orchestral part.

[sc_curtis]

Playing transposed treble clef has never bothered me (started on trumpet), but 2 years of doing it has really screwed me up when it comes to reading concert pitch treble clef (dixieland band)!

I very much understand this! I mostly read the BBb parts on my CC, and it is quite the workout for the old noggin. Mix in occasionally reading the Eb parts (its the accidentals that kill you!), and my brain gets all the activity it needs.

[Wyvern]

Brahms Academic Festival Overture arranged by Dr Denis Wright has a special meaning to me.

Playing it in brass band got me hooked on classical music starting a life long passion.

[NickJones]

There are a few that stick out for me
J Weston Nichols arr Tchickovsky 4th Symphony ( this was done maybe 10 years after the piece was written originally written ) and is a really well crafted arrangement

Entry of the Gods into Valhalla Wagner arr Howard Snell - you have to play it to really appricate how close it feels to the original

Mahler 1 arr Ray Farr , from the recording Best by Farr vol 2 Eikanger Bjorsvik - Awesome final 9 mins brilliant vision by Ray Farr

Firebird - Stravinsky arr Ray Farr - again doing the impossible a brilliant undertaking

Pines of Rome Resphigi arr Howard Snell - how would have thought this would be possible , but H.S does it with ease ( loved playing it with Howard Snell conducting too).

honourable mentions to Academic festival overture ,Benvenuto Cellini), force of destiny and Alex Owen's arr of die walkurie ( 35 mins long)

[TonyTuba]

We have performed many transcriptions over the years:

http://www.trianglebrass.org/repertoire.html

Notable favorites:

Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral
Carnival Overture
1812 Overture
Colas Breugnon
Universal Judgment
Finale to Shostakovich 5