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

Magpie’s Nest at the Divine Door ~ Festive Overture for Wind EnsembleNakahashi Aoi

[Wind Band] Kakuto no Jakusō: Festive Overture for Wind Ensemble – Kasukabe Kyoei High School

This is a work by Aio Nakahashi, a wind band composer from Saga Prefecture.

The title is read “Shinato no Jakusō.” “Shinato” (科戸) means “the place where the wind arises,” and “Jakusō” (鵲巣) refers to a magpie’s nest.

It’s said that the descending “faa—n” sound represents the call of the magpie, which is the prefectural bird of Saga, the composer’s home prefecture.

The piece also incorporates quite a bit of experimentation—the composer has said as much—and it features many elements of contemporary music in its structure.

The performance difficulty is high, so it requires substantial practice to play, but it’s often chosen as a free-choice piece in competitions, making it a rewarding masterpiece to tackle.

Theme of Lupin the ThirdŌno Yūji

Oedo Wind Orchestra – Lupin the Third Theme

For men, the theme from the hugely popular anime Lupin the Third is surely one of the anison pieces you’d want to play at least once.

Its instantly recognizable melody is so famous, and because it’s often arranged in jazz or pop styles, it pairs perfectly with wind ensemble as well.

The ad-lib solos for each instrument that unfold across the various arrangements are all irresistible, and if it’s your part, your excitement is bound to spike every time.

If you’re a guy, you can’t help but want to play it cool and win over a woman like Fujiko Mine!

Procession to PeaceToda Akira

2001 Yearset Piece (II): Procession Toward Peace

This piece became well-known as a required work for the 2001 wind band competition.

It has since become a standard frequently performed by many ensembles.

Among the competition’s set pieces, it is especially popular, and it remains a favorite today, often heard in concerts.

Passion Continent CollectionHakasé Tarō

Passion Continent Collection

This piece was specially composed as the theme song for the TBS documentary TV program “Jounetsu Tairiku.” On television it is performed on violin, but in wind ensembles the woodwinds take the lead.

Since it’s a tune almost everyone has heard, it’s very popular as a perfect piece for beginners.

When the Saints Go Marching Inkokujin reika

When The Saints Go Marching In – live in Australia – Louis Armstrong

It is widely known as a staple piece for wind bands.

This classic song, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” is always included in beginner brass method books.

As a traditional African American spiritual and a Dixieland jazz standard, it has been performed by numerous musicians.

Many people also know it from the 1960 American film “The Five Pennies,” in which Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye sang it.

Symphonic Poem “Run, Melos”Fukushima Hirokazu

Symphonic Poem “Run, Melos”

This piece was composed in 2006 as a commissioned work for the Edogawa Girls High School Wind Ensemble, and as the title suggests, it is based on “Run, Melos.” It begins with the scene in which Melos becomes enraged, and the middle section turns into a gentle melody depicting his participation in his sister’s wedding.