In the case of recent band music, it is often described as being 'assembly-line'. A lot of these works follow the same formula. Fast, rhythmically driving A section. Slow, lyrical B section, often in a related key, a change in time signature (often to 3/4) with perhaps the melody stated initially by a flute or oboe solo. The fast A section returns, usually slightly abridged to finish with a dramatic all-timpani-blazing coda.
I see you nodding.
We need to give our kids a good diet to ensure they turn out as well-rounded musicians. The above mentioned pieces are fine - if you mix them up with other stuff. There is still educational benefit to be had if you know how to work the concepts.
The kinds of repertoire that our ensemble students should be exposed to include:
- Works by a variety of composers of different nationalities
While there is not much educational about playing entirely 'typical' mass produced band pieces as described above, there is also not much in a season of only Mozart. Variety is the key. On a side note, if you have students who happen not to like Mozart, you are turning them off orchestra all together. At least give them a variety that means they will have a chance at liking something else!
- Works in a variety of forms.
Lots of students will graduate high school having never played a multi-movement ensemble piece. Or a piece in sonata form. Or a fanfare. Get out of the ABA fast-slow-fast comfort zone and present something with new structural concepts. I taught two Year 10 students the other day, and as we were working through Mozart's Turkish Rondo, I had to explain rondo form, as they had never heard of it before. Year 10! 5 years of learning instrumental music!
- Works in something other than major keys.
There is a lot of modern band music that is not in major keys - and it is in the natural minor (which is a cop out, because the natural minor is just a major scale starting two notes lower). The reason for this is due to the system of learning in the US, which involves starting all together in band, with flat keys being the dominant theme. You can't even play in F minor as they don't learn concert E natural for at least the first year (and then composers avoid it because the kids aren't used to playing E naturals and they don't want their piece to be played badly).
Find music in modes. Music in true melodic and harmonic minors. Music that is chromatic and music that constantly changes its tonal centre.
- Which also applies to time signatures.
4/4 is a boring but necessary evil. Overdone, it allows kids to fall into a comfort zone and approximate the music instead of concentrating on the exactness of rhythm. 6/8 is a must, as is 3/4. Students shouldn't leave high school without having played in 5/4 or 7/8. Teach students about subdividing uneven bars - best they do it while they are young and learn to feel it. Choose at least one piece that changes time signature.
- Works with an historical context.
This is much easier in some areas than others, but it is still not uncommon to find choirs singing pop medleys and little else, or string orchestras playing nothing but the latest "insert publisher here" catalogue. Find out what the masterworks are for your ensemble. Are there easier arrangements for young bands? Are there other pieces by those composers that you could expose your students to?
Too many band students are graduating high school without even knowing that Holst wrote the first* band piece, and that it's actually really cool. How about all of those guys from the 1950s? Until I went to the US, I knew nothing about Vincent Persichetti and Morton Gould, and I had played in bands for nearly 20 years!
So...where do I find all this music?
Publishers tend to advertise and sell the latest unless you know what you are looking for. Here is a list of places to check out repertoire of note:
- Festival lists - make sure these come from a variety of places around the world! Many are now available online.
- Annotated guides and repertoire books - choose those written by respected educators and conductors. For orchestra and band, check out the GIA series "Teaching Music Through Performance in...", which comes with CDs as well.
- Specific forums and websites
- Advice from fellow conductors and organisations (ABODA, ASTA, etc)
It is our responsibility as educators to provide our students with a balanced diet. They only know what we open them up to, so make it worthwhile!
*I know there are other 'band' works before 1909, but Holst's instrumentation was the closest thing to our modern day band at that point in time, features idiomatic wind writing and was written specifically for 'military band', and is therefore considered the first true wind band work.
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