Starting a band/ensemble

[rY@n11]

Hi, I'm currently in the midst of starting a band/wind ensemble, quite small, planning about 7-8 piece band. My plans for the band is that we first do it slowly first, playing some simple concert band stuff.

However, I am facing problems in building up a suitable reportoire for my band, as in finding suitable sheet music. I initially thought of getting it on the net, or maybe from the library, but most of them I find are not suitable.

Here is the rough line-up of my band in terms of the instruments:

2 clarinets, 2 alto saxes, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 euphonium, 1 tuba, 1 string bass, 1 piano

Appreciate any advice on this...

[Scott Good]

hello rY@n11 - catchy name!

problem you have is your ensemble is unique - not standard in any way. here are my 4 suggestions.

1. play off piano reductions. could be interesting - the rehearsal process would be also figuring out who plays what, or you could determine ahead. but, this opens up for lots of possibility (transposing players will have to know how to read C scores)

2. do your own arrangements! piles of work...but the best solution.

3. study some wind ensemble scores and see if the music can be divided appropriately. maybe 1 clarinet plays flute, 1 sax plays horn. piano can cover lots of things as well, but choose wisely. much of the wind band repertoire has lots of parts doubling.

4. combination of the above! experiment. have fun with it.

The great thing about all of these ideas is it puts the rep. choices squarely in your hands. you don't have to worry about what has already been done for your instrumentation.

good luck,

scott

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by rY@n11

I am facing problems in building up a suitable reportoire

Have you tried having a good poke round at http://imslp.org/wiki/ ? Bound to find something - it's a huge, free, collection.