[History] A roundup of popular set pieces from the All-Japan Band Competition
The brass band competition that wind ensemble players across the country aim for has been held every year.
Each year, the competition organizers provide several set pieces, and when you participate, you may find yourself wondering which one to perform.
Among past set pieces, there are quite a few that continue to be cherished as masterpieces, and it’s common to perform them at regular concerts.
In this article, we’ll introduce all the set pieces from the wind ensemble competition, from the latest selections to popular pieces from the past.
Use it as a reference when choosing your piece for this year’s competition or for your next concert program.
- Perfect for free selections and concert programs! Introducing famous and classic favorites in wind ensemble music.
- Recommended pieces for a wind band contest
- [March] A curated selection of classic marches and dazzling crowd-pleasers for concerts!
- A classic brass band medley
- [Brass/Wind Band] Recommended for Beginners! A Collection of Classics and Popular Pieces Perfect for Practice
- [Wind Band] Guaranteed to hype up the school festival! Recommended pieces the brass band will want to play
- [Wind Ensemble] Wind band pieces that men like. Masterpieces of wind band music recommended for men.
- A collection of video game music I want to perform in a wind ensemble
- Masterpieces for flute. Recommended pieces where the flute shines.
- A Collection of Pop Hits for Wind Band: From Classics to Popular Medleys
- Songs with cool trumpet. Introducing famous pieces from wind ensemble and jazz.
- To you who are thinking about quitting the brass band club: You shouldn’t quit for reasons like these.
- Wind Ensemble: Brass Band Pieces Popular with Girls. Masterpieces of Wind Music Recommended for Women.
[Historic] Summary of Popular Set Pieces from the Wind Band Competition (31–40)
March “Best Friend”Matsuura Shingo
It’s a cheerful piece that conjures up an image of walking arm in arm with friends and comrades.
Selected as the No.
4 set piece for the 2003 All-Japan Band Competition, this work is by Shingo Matsuura, a Kyoto native who teaches as a lecturer at Osaka College of Music and Kobe Gakuin University.
A hallmark of the piece is how the phrases for each instrument are structured like a call-and-response, and that sense of unison makes it really fun to perform.
It’s one of those wind band classics that instantly brings a smile to your face when you listen.
Path of the Pegasus ~ for Wind Band (2008 Contest Piece IV)Kataoka Hiroaki
When it comes to powerful yet beautiful wind band pieces, many people will surely think of this masterpiece.
Composed by Hiroaki Kataoka, who is also active as a percussionist, it portrays the story of a Pegasus soaring through the heavens.
After a tranquil opening, the music shifts dramatically into a development brimming with the exhilaration of taking flight—enough to set your heart racing.
From the calm middle section, it builds once more toward a dazzling, climactic fanfare—truly breathtaking! This work was performed on many stages as a required piece for the 2008 All-Japan Band Competition.
The album “Tenma no Michi” features a powerful performance by the JMSDF Yokosuka Band.
It’s a piece worthy of headlining any concert, offering the joy of storytelling through sound and the tangible thrill of captivating an audience.
Prelude for a Mythical Legend, 2006 Required Piece (I)Horiuchi Toshio
A piece whose powerful, dramatic sound stirs the listener’s heart, as if heralding the beginning of a grand tale.
It is a work by Toshio Horiuchi, who teaches in Hiroshima Prefecture and has composed numerous band pieces.
From the delicate interplay of sounds in the quiet sections to the breathtaking build toward a climax where the full ensemble charges forward as one, the piece offers a deeply immersive experience—like living through the prologue of a legend in music.
Composed in 2006 as a set piece for the All Japan Band Competition, it is featured in the album “Reference Performances of Set Pieces for the All Japan Band Competition 2005‑2008.” Demanding not only individual technique but the expressive power of the entire band, this masterpiece is one you’ll want to perform when you and your ensemble wish to weave a single, sweeping story together.
In conclusion
We presented a comprehensive selection of set pieces from the All-Japan Band Competition, from the latest to classic masterpieces.
There was a wide variety, from ballads showcasing the ensemble charm unique to wind bands to lively marches.
We hope this helps you choose this year’s set piece, and that timeless favorites from the past will also serve as inspiration when selecting repertoire for your regular concerts.