Famous Ensembles

A very brief bit about Wind Ensembles and Concert Bands

We are members of a Concert Band or Wind Ensemble and these are a bit different than an Orchestra.

Up until the early 1900s, large ensembles were Orchestras...they contained mostly string players and a few woodwind, brass and percussion players. (saxophones..sorry you weren't part of the orchestra....concert bands were a big deal for you! and of course you rule the Jazz ensemble so don't feel badly)

At the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s it became the fashion to have marching bands...and it is almost impossible to march with a cello.

The composer Gustav Holst is credited with writing the first piece of music specifically for a concert band. His Suite in E flat is one of the most famous pieces of our literature.

From this piece a whole new genre of composition grew, not just rewriting famous orchestral works...but new music specifically for our instruments.

Below are some recordings of top notch ensembles that we think you will enjoy:

Because it is the original concert band piece....here are 3 ensembles playing Holst Suite in E flat. As you listen, what are the similarities and differences?

And below...great ensembles and some our most famous literature