Wind Ensemble: Brass Band Pieces Popular with Girls. Masterpieces of Wind Music Recommended for Women.
Japan is known as a wind band powerhouse, with an estimated 13,000 ensembles nationwide.
In junior high and high school clubs, the majority of members are girls, and because the wind band club is so popular, many women have plenty of opportunities to experience wind band music.
With that in mind, I’ve written an article recommending wind band works for girls in wind bands and for adult women.
Many people fondly remember their wind band club days or are now active in community and workplace ensembles.
This time, I’ll introduce famous wind band pieces that girls and adult women alike can enjoy.
[Wind Ensemble] Wind ensemble pieces girls like. Classic wind ensemble masterpieces recommended for women (1–10)
The Last Letter from MurdockTarumiya Masanori
A wind band piece that weaves a grand, heartrending story vivid enough to conjure a scene from a film.
It is a work by Masanori Taruya, whose highly narrative style has earned strong support from wind band enthusiasts.
The piece is inspired by the last letter addressed to an officer of the RMS Titanic, and its dramatic development and wistful melodies leave a deep impression on the heart.
Composed in 2008, a version for medium-sized ensemble was published in May 2009.
The structure—beginning in silence, rising to a majestic climax, then returning to tranquility—is breathtaking.
It is a moving work that will captivate anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a story’s world and perform with rich emotion.
Layla on the HillHoshide Takashi
This work features a richly poetic and beautiful melody that evokes the image of a solitary woman standing on a hill, leaving a deep impression on the heart.
Its structure—beginning quietly and gently, then gradually building toward a passionate and grand climax—grips the listener and never lets go.
Composed and arranged by Takashi Hoshide, this original wind band piece was premiered as a commissioned work for the 4th “Wind Ensemble in the 21st Century: Hibiki-En” in 2001.
A performance is also included on the album “Hibiki-En IV: New Works by Japanese Composers.” Designed so that even smaller ensembles can achieve rich harmonies and a sense of scale, it is a true masterpiece—perfect for bands seeking to deliver a dramatic piece brimming with emotion in competitions or concerts.
It is an especially recommended wind band piece for women.
Magellan’s Challenge to the Unknown ContinentTarumiya Masanori
A dramatic and cool piece composed by Masanori Taruya with the theme of great adventures in history.
It portrays the grand challenge of an Age of Discovery explorer setting out for unknown continents, powerfully stirring the spirit of adventure that lies dormant in the listener’s heart.
The hopeful departure, the indomitable will to face hardships, and the joy of discovering a new continent are expressed dramatically, letting you savor a complete story.
This work was recorded by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra on the album “WORKS IV -Dream of W.D.O.-,” released in October 2014.
It’s perfect for bands that want to convey a vast worldview in competition and push their own limits! Why not perform as if you were the protagonist of the story?
El Camino RealAlfred Reed
This Latin fantasy by Alfred Reed, who made tremendous contributions to the American wind band world, overflows with Spanish passion.
A bold work in which Reed sought to reconstruct “true Spanish music” using the melodies and harmonies of traditional dance, it is extremely well-known as a free-choice piece in wind band competitions.
From the jota section that opens with lively rhythms marked by castanets, the piece moves to an original and beautiful middle section in the style of a fandango employing changing meters, then surges back to a climactic finish—an absolutely stunning progression.
Premiered in April 1985, this work captivates performers and audiences alike with its dramatic flair.
It’s a superb choice when you want to add brilliance to a concert program and ignite the hall with excitement.
Carpenters ForeverJ.Raposo/P.Williams/R.Nichols/J.Bettis/R.Carpenter/H.David/B.Bacharach/L.Russell/B.Bramlett/F.Karlin/J.Griffin/R.Wilson
A medley that lets you enjoy the Carpenters’ timeless classics in a dazzling arrangement unique to concert band.
In this work, arranger Toshio Mashima masterfully weaves together songs by renowned composers such as Burt Bacharach and Paul Williams into what feels like a single, cohesive story.
From a grand fanfare that evokes hope for the future, to warmly resonant melodies that gently sink into the heart, and on to a culmination brimming with joy, the progression grips listeners and doesn’t let go.
This arrangement was produced in June 2015 as part of Yamaha’s concert band sheet music series.
Blending the sparkle of pop with the power of wind ensemble, the sound brings brilliance to any performance and offers a perfect showcase for stylish, compelling playing.
“Retro” 2023 All-Japan Band Competition Required Piece IIIAmano Masamichi
A piece by Masamicz Amano, a master of film music who brilliantly revived 1970s–80s pop in contemporary wind band form.
Commissioned as the 2023 All-Japan Band Competition Set Piece III, it became a major talking point when 35 out of 99 ensembles chose it at the national finals.
With a structure that shifts from bright rock to sentimental ballad to crossover, it never lets the listener’s attention flag.
The authentic rhythms laid down by drums and congas, and the jazzy trumpet and sax solos, are just irresistibly cool.
You can feel the composer’s passion for “real pop” in every corner of the sound.
For bands that want to electrify the hall with a grooving performance, this could provide the ultimate showstopper.
Treasure IslandIzumi Hirotaka
The original is a piece by T-SQUARE, one of Japan’s premier instrumental bands, but thanks to an arrangement by Toshio Mashima—one of the leading arrangers in the wind band world—it has been reborn as an upbeat, bright, and fun wind band number.
Since the release of this arrangement, it has captured the hearts of wind band fans beyond just T-SQUARE’s followers, and it’s no exaggeration to say it now appears at virtually every wind band concert.
Also, the alto sax solo in the middle is a true showcase of skill, and for anyone in the alto sax part, it’s likely the number-one wind band solo they’ll want to play at least once.