Concert band
A concert band is an ensemble for playing instruments using wind. The main constituents are woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family and percussion instrument family. Sometimes, members of the string instrument family such as the cello and the double bass can be included.
There are many other names for a concert band like wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, and symphonic wind ensemble. Many people confuse the concert band with brass band or marching band. The differences between them come from the orchestration (how the music is written for the different parts).
The songs written for the concert band are much more easy to listen because of its repertoires. The repertoires are not only about the orchestral composition. Light music, jazz, march and popular tunes are also played. Even though people don't have special knowledge about it, anyone can enjoy the concert band music. It is highly acclaimed for both its quality and popularity. As the arrangement of concert band music is completed in the 20th century, its modern and dynamic style appeals general public. Plus, many conductors conduct concert bands because they are attracted by its unique orchestration.
Classification[change | change source]
A concert band can be divided into four groups; Professional bands, Military bands, School bands, and Community bands. Except for the professional bands, others are named for the location where the performers play.
Professional bands[change | change source]
Performers playing in professional bands for pay consider the band performance as their job. There are many professional bands in the world, such as Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and Dallas Wind Symphony.
Military bands[change | change source]
A concert band in the military is called a military band. Because the repertoires are dynamic and active, concert bands usually perform in the army. Not only the military bands but also marching bands with brass often used for marching there.
- Air Force Academy Band
School Bands[change | change source]
School bands refer to the groups consisting student players in school. In elementary, middle, high school and university, there are many students playing wind instruments for a concert or event. People included here also can be divided into two groups. Playing them as their hobbies or studying them as their majors.
- In United States- Yale University Concert Band
- In South Korea- Korea University Wind Orchestra
Community Bands[change | change source]
A community band is a community-based ensemble. It is sponsored by a town or city. Some members might be professional players but the others may not be.
- The Philadelphia Wind Symphony
- Salt Lake Symphonic Winds
- Teheran Valley Wind orchestra[permanent dead link](In Korea)
Instrumentation[change | change source]
Woodwind instrument[change | change source]
A wind instrument's sound is produced by the vibration of a reed in the mouthpiece, like in a bassoon, clarinet, oboe, or saxophone, or by passing air over the mouthpiece, as a flute.
Brass instrument[change | change source]
A brass instrument is defined as an “aerophone,” which means it is an instrument where the musician must blow air into the instrument. The musician produces the tone by buzzing their lips into what is generally a cup-shaped mouthpiece. It doesn’t mean that the instrument is necessarily made of brass, since some instruments that are made of other metals like wood, horn, or even animal bone are included in the family of brass instruments. Other instruments that are made of brass or metals such as the flute or saxophone are not brass instruments.
Percussion instrument[change | change source]
A percussion instrument is an instrument, such as a drum, xylophone, piano, or marimba, in which sound is produced by one object striking another or by being scraped or shaken.