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Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:23 am
by Soulbrass
Hi…
Does anyone know of any pieces written for big band AND wind ensemble? Music doesn’t have to be for full big band, but any group larger than a combo together with a concert band/wind ensemble? Where would I look? Any recordings?
Thanks!
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:33 pm
by VJOFan
How hard do you want to look? I played something that fits the bill between 1988 and 1990 with the University of British Columbia stage band and wind ensemble. All I can remember about it was it was a long piece with a few featured trombone bits that went up to D. Somewhere in the UBC library system are some boxes of programs. The title is probably in one of the spring concert programs in the years mentioned above. We did it at home then went on a short tour of the province, here’s the file list.
https://rbscarchives.library.ubc.ca/dow ... .pdf#page4
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:50 pm
by BGuttman
Many years ago my orchestra did something by Gunther Schuller called "Journey Into Jazz" that featured a small jazz ensemble with string orchestra. The music is probably at Berklee, where Gunther was teaching. It could have also had an arrangement for wind ensemble. Worth a try.
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 10:16 pm
by Posaunus
BGuttman wrote: Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:50 pm
Many years ago my orchestra did something by Gunther Schuller called "Journey Into Jazz" that featured a small jazz ensemble with string orchestra. The music is probably at Berklee, where Gunther was teaching.
Gunther Schuller never taught at Berklee School of Music (in Boston). But among his many other accomplishments, he did serve in the 1960s-1970s as President of the New England Conservatory of Music (where he founded the New England Ragtime Ensemble - great fun at the time!). Perhaps some of his compositions & arrangements are available from NEC.
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 3:01 pm
by Soulbrass
All replies...much appreciated! I'll see what I can turn up.
If I find anything of interest, I'll post it for all.
Still open to any additional suggestions...thanks!
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2025 9:13 pm
by ericrich
VJOFan wrote: Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:33 pm
How hard do you want to look? I played something that fits the bill between 1988 and 1990 with the University of British Columbia stage band and wind ensemble. All I can remember about it was it was a long piece with a few featured trombone bits that went up to D. Somewhere in the UBC library system are some boxes of programs. The title is probably in one of the spring concert programs in the years mentioned above. We did it at home then went on a short tour of the province, here’s the file list.
https://rbscarchives.library.ubc.ca/dow ... .pdf#page4
You may be referring to Rhapsody for Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble composed by Patrick Williams/arranged by Sammy Nestico. It was originally written for the USAF Concert Band and the Airmen of Note. Here is a link to a performance by the WISH Wind Orchestra and Big Band of Japan:
https://youtu.be/qNBh3RE01vM?si=e32mhGl0UgZdDJzw
Best,
Eric
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 2:32 pm
by VJOFan
ericrich wrote: Fri Sep 05, 2025 9:13 pm
VJOFan wrote: Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:33 pm
How hard do you want to look? I played something that fits the bill between 1988 and 1990 with the University of British Columbia stage band and wind ensemble. All I can remember about it was it was a long piece with a few featured trombone bits that went up to D. Somewhere in the UBC library system are some boxes of programs. The title is probably in one of the spring concert programs in the years mentioned above. We did it at home then went on a short tour of the province, here’s the file list.
https://rbscarchives.library.ubc.ca/dow ... .pdf#page4
You may be referring to Rhapsody for Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble composed by Patrick Williams/arranged by Sammy Nestico. It was originally written for the USAF Concert Band and the Airmen of Note. Here is a link to a performance by the WISH Wind Orchestra and Big Band of Japan:
https://youtu.be/qNBh3RE01vM?si=e32mhGl0UgZdDJzw
Best,
Eric
THANK YOU! That is 100% the piece. I half remembered that Nestico’s name was on it, but couldn’t find anything like it by searching his works. I had a little more success than on this recording, but it was hard to pull it off in the middle of such a big work and an even bigger program.
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 3:29 pm
by Soulbrass
Thanks! I'll check it out! Appreciated.
Re: Pieces for Big Band AND Wind Ensemble/Concert Band
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 6:15 am
by pif
if you're still looking Robert Nelson wrote a piece for the University of Houston Wind Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra. Performance from TMEA in mid '90s:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/prism/ ... =451536983
or