Wind Ensemble: Brass Band Pieces Popular with Girls. Masterpieces of Wind Music Recommended for Women.

“Retro” 2023 All-Japan Band Competition Required Piece IIIAmano Masamichi

[WISH's Set Piece] 2023 All-Japan Band Competition Required Piece III: Retro (Performance)

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.

Sakura SongFukuda Yosuke

Narashino City Narashino High School Wind Ensemble 50th Regular Concert - Sakura no Uta (Song of Cherry Blossoms)

A masterpiece with a delicate, moving melody that grips the heart, evoking scenes of cherry blossom petals dancing in the air.

This is a work by Yosuke Fukuda, a composer renowned for his many wind ensemble pieces.

For those who have played in concert band, memories will surely come flooding back—“We performed this at a competition,” “I always want to listen to it when spring arrives,” and so on.

Said to have been completed after roughly 15 years of conceptual development, the piece begins in silence and unfolds on a grand scale that captivates listeners and won’t let go.

It was selected as the Set Piece I for the 2012 All Japan Band Competition and was also featured in Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.

drama 366 Days.

An unfading song that forever overlaps with the memories of youth.

Tanabata (Star Festival)Sakai Itaru

Tanabata / Itaru Sakai — The Seventh Night of July / Itaru Sakai

This is Ikaku Sakai’s famous piece “The Seventh Night of July (Tanabata),” which is popular among junior and senior high school students.

Its popularity stems not only from the fact that Sakai himself drew on the Japanese custom of Tanabata as the theme and crafted the work to be accessible and easy to play, taking inspiration from a wide range of music—from wind band and classical to pop—but also because he composed it while he was in high school, making it relatable to that generation.

The piece’s sense of drive and sparkle captures the hearts of young listeners, while the beauty of the middle section evokes memories of youth for adult wind band enthusiasts.

For many female wind band players, it’s the sparkle and the beauty that stand out.

ArsenalJan Van der Roost

Arsenal — Jan Van der Roost <Guest Conductor> Jan Van der Roost — Kinki University Wind Ensemble

This is a majestic concert march composed by Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost, known for his many works for wind and brass bands.

It opens with a valiant fanfare, and the middle section unfolds into a spacious, beautiful melody that gently enfolds the heart.

Composed in May 1996 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a Belgian ensemble, its noble yet warm sound seems to express both the joy of celebrating history and hope for the future.

It has been performed by world-renowned groups such as the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, and its festive sonority continues to captivate many wind band enthusiasts.

It is a perfect piece for opening a concert or celebrating a new beginning.

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Tokoha University Affiliated Tachibana High School, Wind Music Major: “Blue and Summer” — 24th All-Japan High School Wind Ensemble Competition in Yokohama

When it comes to songs that are perfect for a concert band, Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s “Blue and Summer” is an absolute must.

With its fresh, breezy melody and a vibe that evokes snapshots of youth, this track has been arranged for wind ensemble, captivating the hearts of band girls everywhere.

Its vivid, summer-evoking sound is sure to energize and inspire, offering both vitality and hope.

It also works wonderfully as a school festival number or a sports cheer song, leaving a positive impression on audiences.

Why not showcase this crowd-pleaser at your next concert?

School HeavenFingā 5

School Paradise (Brass Band Hit)

When it comes to pop songs that have long been loved by a wide audience, this one surely comes to mind.

“Gakuen Tengoku” performed by a wind ensemble has a special power to capture people’s hearts.

Even if you didn’t know the song in real time, many people have probably heard it.

The Finger 5 melody evokes school scenes and the bittersweetness of young love, making it especially recommended for school band programs.

The intro section also lends itself to fun call-and-response with the audience, so performing it at, say, a school festival will heighten the sense of unity and excitement in the venue.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

Redline TangoJohn Mackey

[2022/9/4 Keitaro Harada × Panda Wind Orchestra] J. Mackey: Redline Tango

Opening with a powerful driving rhythm that instantly draws listeners into its world, Redline Tango is a signature work by American composer John Mackey.

Originally written for orchestra in 2003, the piece was later arranged for wind ensemble by the composer himself.

Its thrilling contrast between explosive, high-velocity energy and a darkly sensual tango melody seems to express dangerous passion in sound.

In 2005 it received the prestigious Sousa/Ostwald Award, becoming a breakthrough work that brought Mackey’s name to international attention, and it is included on the album Redline Tango.

Its high level of difficulty entices performers to rise to the challenge, and it is guaranteed to electrify any concert audience.