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Re: American "English" Style Brass Bands

>
>I agree with the posts so far, American low brass players, at least the 
>amateur sort, are more comfortable in bass clef. I used to direct/manage 
>a brass band, and would spend HOURS rewriting low brass parts in bass 
>clef because my guys (nothing sexist intended, they just WERE all guys) 
>couldn't read treble clef. 
>
>Also, someone posted yesterday about a Shostakovich piece that 
>started--Bah, bu bu bu bah, etc. (that's similar but not verbatum). He 
>called it Folk Festival and commented that he hadn't heard an orchestra 
>play it. 

Actually, I thought that I called it Folk Dances.  If I didn't, please
forgive me, I certainly meant to.  I was replying to someone who had played
a piece titled similiarly.  I do occasionally confuse them.  Festive
Overture is quite a piece, as well.

I am pretty sure that it's (in English) called both Festive 
>Overture and Festival Overture. I have done it in a few symphonies but it 
>doesn't get programed a lot. I think one of the reasons it doesn't get 
>programed is that it's somewhat short for the amount of work a symphony 
>has to do to play it. With only 4-5 rehearsals, and a lot of time to fill 
>on the average symphony concert, trying to get everybody to competently 
>buzz through the "tempo-de-tear-ass" stuff at the end takes too much 
>rehearsal time. Also, as an overture, there aren't a whole lot of solos 
>that can gracefully follow it.  It, um, "kicks."  :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)  
>Great piece, though. Is the brass band arrangement anywhere NEAR as good 
>as the orchestral original?  Beth in the Soo

There are two arrangements for band that I have heard of.  The first is
arranged by William Gordon, the second by Barrie Gott.  Both are Salvation
Army arrangers and do a great job, although I have only heard the Gordon
arrangement (which is tremendously exciting!)
Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky are the first composers that come to mind
(although there might be others as well) whose music, when competently
arranged, sounds magnificent played by brass bands.  Much of their music
features more than the usual amount of brass and, provided the brass band
can keep up with the running parts (usually given to the strings), can be
easily transcribed for band.
If anyone wishes a demonstration of brass bands handling classical music,
please contact me and I will see about making some musical 'excerpts' available.

Erik.
epittock@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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