[Wind Ensemble] Wind band pieces that men like. Masterpieces of wind band music recommended for men.

Grand Naval March (Big March)kaigun gungakutai

[March: Big Navy March (Big March)] Conducted by Music Director Genji Fujisaki, Yokosuka Naval Training Division Band, recorded in October, Showa 8 (1933)

A certain rousing march by the Navy Band is brimming with a vigor that stirs the listener’s heart.

Its appeal lies in its powerful rhythms and uplifting melody, and within a brief 2 minutes and 36 seconds it unfolds with a finely crafted structure—from the prelude to the main section and on to a brilliant trio.

First released as an SP record in October 1933, the piece transcended its era and drew renewed attention when it was included on albums such as the 1995 collection “Masterpieces of Prewar Japanese Marches: Navy Band Edition.” It is sometimes performed at official occasions such as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Fleet Review, attesting to its dignified stature.

This is a work I recommend to anyone interested in the history of Japanese wind music or in stirring, heroic music.

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.

Sailors and sea shanties (songs of seafaring men)Robert W. Smith

Song of Sailor and Sea (The Sailor and the Sea)

Although the misrendered original title “Song of the Men of the Sea” has become more widely known, the correct title is “The Sailor and the Sea.” As the title suggests, this piece depicts a voyage at sea, featuring special playing techniques that imitate seagulls, whale calls, and the sound of waves.

March “Patriotism”Saitō Ushimatsu

March “Patriotism” / Patriotic March

This march, with a powerful wind band melody ringing out, was composed by Ushimatsu Saito in December 1937 for the Navy Band.

Its dignified, weighty atmosphere and the solemn lyrical melody of the middle section are beautifully balanced, and its high level of craftsmanship led to its selection as an official piece jointly adopted by the Navy and Army.

An SP record was released at the time by Polydor, featuring a performance by the Imperial Japanese Navy Band under the baton of Seigo Naitō.

From the wartime period through the postwar years, it was widely performed at ceremonies and events throughout the Asia-Pacific region and became familiar to local audiences in places like Indonesia and Palau.

The trio section incorporates Tokichi Setoguchi’s nationally beloved song “Aikoku Koshinkyoku” (Patriotic March), the composer also known for “Gunkan March.” This is a must-hear for those who wish to savor the rich sonorities and solemn melodic beauty of wind band music, as well as for anyone interested in the history of Japanese military music.

Myth for Wind Ensemble: The Tale of the Heavenly Rock CaveŌguri Yutaka

Myth for Wind Ensemble: Based on the Tale of Amano-Iwato (The Heavenly Rock Cave)

This instrument was created with the story of the Heavenly Rock Cave from Japanese mythology in mind.

It begins with the scene where Amaterasu, the sun goddess, hides herself and the earth is shrouded in darkness, and the section expressing Ame-no-Uzume’s intense dance has become a highly acclaimed piece.

March ‘The National Emblem’Edwin Eugene Bagley

March “National Emblem” / E. E. Bagley (arr. Yasuichi Hatta) National Emblem March / Edwin Eugene Bagley (arr. Yoshikazu Hatta)

The year 1902 saw the birth of a piece renowned as a pinnacle of American marches.

Edwin Eugene Bagley composed it while touring by train, and although he once discarded the score, band members picked it up and secretly practiced it.

They then delivered an unanticipated performance at a subsequent concert, which proved a great success.

Incorporating the opening motif of The Star-Spangled Banner, the work has been featured in the film Miracle on 34th Street and the TV series The A-Team, and has become indispensable at U.S.

Independence Day celebrations and military ceremonies.

With its powerful rhythms and memorable melody, it’s a compelling composition that fully showcases the appeal of wind band music—perfect for getting together with musical friends and enjoying on a day off.

Cinema ParadisoEnnio Morricone

Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso) / Ennio Morricone / Arranged by Toshio Mashima

A masterpiece of film music that fuses a grand orchestra with beautiful melodies.

Composed in 1988 as the soundtrack for an Italian film, this work was co-written by Ennio Morricone and his son Andrea.

Its simple yet emotionally rich melody resonates deeply with the heart.

Released in 1990 as the album “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso,” it won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Film Score and the David di Donatello Award for Best Music.

The elegant melodies, blending classical elements with traditional Italian music, are perfect for quiet, reflective moments or as a piece to practice in wind ensemble settings.