Best Large Brass Ensemble Pieces?

[fsgazda]

Britten: Russian Funeral
Barber: Mutations from Bach
Fisher Tull: The Binding
Several Philip Jones Brass Arrangements, including the Earl of Oxford's March and Greensleeves
Anthony Plog: Mini Variations on Amazing Grace

Larger Pieces:
Koetsier: Symphony for Brass
Second vote for the Rautavaara: A Requiem in Our Time and the Ewazen: Symphony in Brass

[scottw]

Britten: Russian Funeral
Barber: Mutations from Bach
Fisher Tull: The Binding
Several Philip Jones Brass Arrangements, including the Earl of Oxford's March and Greensleeves
Anthony Plog: Mini Variations on Amazing Grace

Larger Pieces:
Koetsier: Symphony for Brass
Second vote for the Rautavaara: A Requiem in Our Time and the Ewazen: Symphony in Brass

Is the Rautavaara still in rental only? I tried to get it some years ago.

[roweenie]

Wallingford Riegger: Music for Brass Choir, Op. 45

https://youtu.be/DR48BUzL5lg" target="_blank

also Riegger: Nonet for Brass, Op. 49

https://youtu.be/cj6CNA65MUM" target="_blank

They may not be what you might call "crowd pleasers", but they are fun to play and have interesting tuba parts........

[Billy M.]

Greig Funeral March. Amazing music.

+1 for Grieg's Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak.

I know that one of our illustrious members on here has written an arrangement of it in the original key of A minor. I have an arrangement for 10-piece brass ensemble in Bb minor (arrangement and transcription from Grieg's own version for brass band). (1 Eb trumpet, 2 Bb trumpets, 1 flugel, 1 F-horn, 3 trombones, 1 Bass bone, 1 tuba).

[ken k]

Richard Strauss' "Feierlicher Einzug". You can find a recent transcription on dorm40music.com .

Any of the strauss pieces, Stadt Wein also.

k

[bisontuba]

R. Strauss An Alpine Symphony arr. for large brass ensemble by Jay Friedman....exceptional, but very demanding. Played it last year......great arrangement!!

[Alex C]

The interpretation of "audience friendly" literature has apparently broadened recently. Strauss, Reigger, Koetsier? Yep, that'll bring in droves of listeners.

If you want an audience play movie themes which are available by the score (no pun intended).

Many people who know nothing about music think Sousa is cool.

Throw in a couple of jazz tunes.

Try to develop a theme and for God's sake, don't make it chronological.

Add one really good piece of music to educate the audience.

You are fighting for the entertainment dollar, even if your concert is free. People get great music on TV and Netflix daily, they don't want a music history lecture anymore. Model after the successful brass groups, Canadian, etc.

[roweenie]

Add one really good piece of music to educate the audience.

This is one of the keys to the Sousa Band's success, among others.

The interpretation of "audience friendly" literature has apparently broadened recently. Strauss, Reigger, Koetsier? Yep, that'll bring in droves of listeners.

They may not be what you might call "crowd pleasers", but they are fun to play and have interesting tuba parts........

(emphasis added after the fact)

(not disagreeing with you either, just a reminder I did make a disclaimer......)

[balchb]

Chamber Music Works has a great arrangement of Mambo from West Side Story. Fits the entertainment bill very well.

My friend who writes/arranges/publishes/conducts these tunes does a great job of balancing audience education with entertainment and offering great music for us to play. You should shoot him an email.

[ken k]

wonder if there are any star wars arrangements out for big brass. that would be very cool and timely...
would be worth writing something out if there are no commercial charts available.

[pgym]

Take a look at the collections Choralfantasien and Hymnus by Christian Sprenger, of the German group, Genesis Brass. Most are 4-8 parts + perc, though some go up to 14.

There are audio samples on the Genesis Brass website (and iTunes), and PDF sample scores (albeit arranged for concert band) for Hymnus.

[Ace]

If you have a fairly sophisticated audience and very skilled players, perhaps something on this order could be arranged by your group. It's the finale of Franz Schmidt's Symphony No. 2. Here's a clip. Start at about 9:30. Be prepared for balls out brass playing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-GaIyy6daw" target="_blank

Ace

[Mark E. Chachich]

You may be able to find some very good brass music on this site:

IMSLP
Petrucci Music Library
free to download

http://imslp.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

IMSLP has music that is in the public domain (scores and parts). There is a warning that what is public domain in one country may still be under copyright in another, so check the status of the piece in your country. They have some Richard Strauss including "Feierlicher Einzug". IMSLP is also a good way to get scores and parts for a lot of orchestra and band music.

enjoy,
Mark