Concert band

A concert band , also known as a wind band , symphonic band , symphonic winds , wind orchestra , wind symphony , or wind ensemble , is a form of wind band that is particularly widespread in North America. The line-up consists of woodwind instruments , brass instruments and instruments from the drum , stick and percussion families . The repertoire includes - depending on the direction of the orchestra - original compositions, arrangements of classical works and light music. The line-up of a concert band is similar to the marching band, but it can be distinguished by the fact that it primarily plays concerts. Orchestras with a particularly symphonic orientation describe themselves as wind ensembles.

Concert bands exist in North America at universities, as military orchestras, free professional orchestras, city orchestras, school orchestras or as free amateur orchestras.

occupation

The line-up of a concert band is not standardized, different composers add or dispense with individual voices. It differs in some characteristic features from the traditional wind orchestra in German-speaking countries. In particular, trumpets and cornets are preferred to the flugelhorn , French horns are used instead of Eb horns and euphonies are used instead of tenor horns .

Instruments in brackets are less common, they are occasionally drawn in by cue notes in other voices:

Woodwind instruments

Piccolo

Flute 1, 2 (, 3)

( Alto flute )

( Bass flute )

Oboe 1 (, 2)

( English horn )

Bassoon 1 (, 2)

( Contrabassoon )

Representative of a clarinet group of a concert band: bass, alto, Bb and Eb clarinet

(Eb clarinet )

Bb clarinet 1, 2, 3 (, 4)

Alto clarinet

Bass clarinet

(Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet )

(Bb double bass clarinet )

( Soprano saxophone )

Alto saxophone 1, 2

Tenor saxophone

Baritone saxophone

( Bass saxophone )

Brass instruments

Trumpet / Cornet 1, 2, 3 (, 4)

( Flugelhorn )

Horn 1, 2, 3, 4

Trumpets 1, 2, 3

( Bass trombone )

Baritone horn / euphonium 1 (, 2)

tuba

Drums , stick playing and percussion

Timpani (2-4)

Drums: snare drum , bass drum , cymbal , tambourine , triangle , tam-tam , wooden block , tom-tom etc.

Wandspiel: (Mallet): Glockenspiel , xylophone , marimba , vibraphone , chimes etc.

Keyboard and string instruments

( Piano )

( Celesta )

( Harp )

( Organ )

Double bass / electric bass

The instrumentation can vary greatly depending on the type of orchestra, for example school orchestras often do not have a full line-up. In a typical concert band, each voice is doubled by several players; in principle, it is possible to have 35 voices with 200 players. In the Wind Ensemble there is usually no doubling of voices. An exception are flutes and clarinets, some of whose parts contain part divisions in the score. The tuba is also often played twice.

Contemporary composers often include unusual instruments or acoustic effects in their works, such as sirens, electronic effects, cannons or vocals.