Recommendations for community band.

ttf_Eyedoc · Post by **ttf_Eyedoc** » Sun Aug 27, 2017 11:04 pm

Looking for suggestions for our community band. Pieces that are fun to play and enjoyable for concert attendees. Majority of ticket purchasers are probably 60 to 80 years old. We have about 50 members, play medium to medium advanced pieces as listed on JW Pepper. I think the brass sections are stronger than woodwinds with some exceptions.
What have you played that was fun and audiences loved?

ttf_BGuttman · Post by **ttf_BGuttman** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:19 am

Going to move this to Music Conerts Recordings...

I think the Pirates of the Carribean series are pretty good. Best of them is the original.
Music Man (arranged by Bennett)
Sound of Music (caveat: lots of page turns -- not good for outdoors)
Beyond the Horizon (Gallante)
Bohemian Rhapsody
By Loch and Mountain (I like it because it has a Euphonium solo and I play Euphonium in the band)
Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion (PDQ Bach/Schickele)
Salute to Spike Jones
Iberian Escapades
Jersey Boys
Highlights from Les Miserables
Phantom of the Opera (get the one with the scream)
Victory at Sea (arranged by Richard Rodgers).
Flights of Passage (Rausch)

Warhorses:

Holst Suites (1 and 2)
English Folk Song Suite
Jupiter from The Planets
Country Gardens (Grainger)
Zampa Overture
Most Sousa marches. They have just been released as PD by the Marine Band.
Irish Tune from County Derry (Grainger version)
The Kilties
The Klaxon
Most Fillmore marches.
Armed Forces Salute (arr. Lowden)

Ones the band hates but audiences love:
Instant Concert
Country and Western
(There are more of these, all by Harold L. Walters)

This should give you a few ideas, I hope.

ttf_Geezerhorn · Post by **ttf_Geezerhorn** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 4:20 am

The Great Locomotive Chase by Robert W. Smith

...Geezer

ttf_timothy42b · Post by **ttf_timothy42b** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 5:06 am

Themes Like Old Times. There are several versions, medleys of old TV theme songs. The kids won't recognize any but old timers might.

ttf_Stan · Post by **ttf_Stan** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 5:38 am

We did a Loony Tunes medley (selections from William Tell, Valkyries, Hungarian Dances...stuff like that) that was a lot of fun for a similar-aged crowed.

ttf_TriJim · Post by **ttf_TriJim** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 6:18 am

Quote from: Stan on Aug 28, 2017, 05:38AMWe did a Loony Tunes medley (selections from William Tell, Valkyries, Hungarian Dances...stuff like that) that was a lot of fun for a similar-aged crowed.

It's 'What's Up At The Symphony' arranged by Jerry Brubaker and available on JW Pepper. Enjoyable trombone arrangement including a couple measures of 'Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries.'

ttf_jmtheob · Post by **ttf_jmtheob** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 6:26 am

My piece "Polypentatonalicity" seems to be an audience pleaser. Has been performed a couple of times by community bands. Contact me for a score and parts.

ttf_JohnL · Post by **ttf_JohnL** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:14 am

Quote from: timothy42b on Aug 28, 2017, 05:06AMThemes Like Old Times. There are several versions, medleys of old TV theme songs. The kids won't recognize any but old timers might.Those tunes are older than television; more like late 19th and early 20th century.

The first three were arranged by Warren Barker; the fourth by John Edmondson.

Are you looking for pops material or "serious" band literature?

ttf_BGuttman · Post by **ttf_BGuttman** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:16 am

Quote from: jmtheob on Aug 28, 2017, 06:26AMMy piece "Polypentatonalicity" seems to be an audience pleaser. Has been performed a couple of times by community bands. Contact me for a score and parts.

I can vouch for this. We did this with Jim in the audience at a Hollis NH outdoor concert.

ttf_Eyedoc · Post by **ttf_Eyedoc** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:19 pm

Thanks for all the responses.
We have Victory at Sea for this upcoming Veterans day. Also Hymn to the Fallen with a line of pedals for me on bass

We do a mix of pops and serious. Triumph of the Argonauts (Sheldon) and Among the Clouds (Balmages) were recent serious band pieces with good emotion and energy. On Argonauts, The director had me play a section of the tuba part to punch out a driving motif.
Thanks again for the suggestions!

ttf_tbathras · Post by **ttf_tbathras** » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:38 pm

Quote from: Eyedoc on Aug 28, 2017, 01:19PMThe director had me play a section of the tuba part to punch out a driving motif

that's always a blast - regardless of the piece.

ttf_dougm · Post by **ttf_dougm** » Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:18 pm

You might get some ideas from the pieces we have played in the Heisey Wind Ensemble. We are a fairly high end community band, but we give a pops concert every April, and play for a July 4th concert. Everything we have played since 1985 is listed here:
<http://www.heiseywindensemble.org/?page_id=42>

Doug

ttf_dougm · Post by **ttf_dougm** » Fri Sep 01, 2017 8:18 pm

You might get some ideas from the pieces we have played in the Heisey Wind Ensemble. We are a fairly high end community band, but we give a pops concert every April, and play for a July 4th concert. Everything we have played since 1985 is listed here:
<http://www.heiseywindensemble.org/?page_id=42>

Doug