[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.
Playlist
| [History] A roundup of popular set pieces from the All-Japan Band Competition | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1 | Sakura SongFukuda Yosuke | play_arrow | An epic tale themed around cherry blossoms, evoked by ‘…’ |
| 2 | Dance of the Wind for Wind EnsembleFukuda Yosuke | play_arrow | In 2004, on the brass band segment of ‘Waratte Koraete’… |
| 3 | fairy taleSakai Itaru | play_arrow | The 2024 All-Japan ... produced by Itaru Sakai... |
| 4 | Heavenly IslandSatō Hiroaki | play_arrow | From the intro, you can feel a Japanese (Wa) taste, 201… |
| 5 | retroAmano Masamichi | play_arrow | Masamichi Amano makes past music feel new... |
| 6 | The Wind of ProvenceTasaka Naoki | play_arrow | Naoki Tasaka’s wind band piece has a Spanish-style fl… |
| 7 | Disco KidTōkairin Osamu | play_arrow | Even just from the title “Disco Kid”… |
| 8 | sand ripplesHoshina Hiroshi | play_arrow | Composed by Hiroshi Hoshina, who is also a composer, arranger, and conductor... |
| 9 | March “Raise the Flag of Courage”Toguchi Kimihiro | play_arrow | The piece selected as a required work for the wind band competition… |
| 10 | Polonaise and Aria — for Wind EnsembleMiyashita Hideki | play_arrow | Hideki Miyashita’s works are often heard at wind band competitions… |
| 11 | March Sky Blue DreamYatō Manabu | play_arrow | Among the set pieces performed at wind band competitions... |
| 12 | March of the South WindToguchi Kimihiro | play_arrow | As a required piece for the 2011 wind band competition... |
| 13 | Toys ParadeHirayama Yūichi | play_arrow | The set piece for the wind band competition by Mr. Yuichi Hirayama… |
| 14 | March “Ramses II”Abe Yuichi | play_arrow | Yuichi Abe composed the 1995 All-Japan ... |
| 15 | Star Puzzle MarchKonagaya Soichi | play_arrow | As the set piece for the 1993 wind band competition... |
| 16 | Pops March “Wonderful Days”Iwai Naohiro | play_arrow | Composed by Naohiro Iwai, this work is a … for wind band |
| 17 | Ordinary MarchTakahashi Hiroki | play_arrow | All Japan in fiscal year 2010 handled by Hiroki Takahashi… |
| 18 | Glory of CataloniaMamiya Yoshio | play_arrow | It’s a famous wind ensemble piece composed by Yoshio Mamiya... |
| 19 | Sky of HopeWada Makoto | play_arrow | A wind ensemble piece composed by Japan Air Self-Defense Force member Shin Wada… |
| 20 | Indicators of advanced technologyKawabe Koichi | play_arrow | This piece, selected as the 1974 assigned piece B, … |
| 21 | March of the Sea BreezeTajima Tsutomu | play_arrow | The assi… of the 2010 All-Japan Band Competition |
| 22 | GenesisSuzuki Eiji | play_arrow | Mr. Eishi Suzuki composed the Overture for Wind Ensemble, “Ji… |
| 23 | March “Blue Spring”Suzuki Masashi | play_arrow | Masashi Suzuki, who serves as the head of Suzuki Music Engraving House… |
| 24 | March “Beyond the K-Point”Takahashi Shinya | play_arrow | Contest piece No. 4 from 1999 remains popular even today... |
| 25 | March “Blue Sky”Takagi Toko | play_arrow | The No. 4 assigned piece for 2007 is clean and... |
| 26 | The wind of MayMajima Toshio | play_arrow | If you’re someone involved in wind ensembles, then the person who worked on this piece… |
| 27 | Circus Hat MarchOkumoto Tomoari | play_arrow | Although Task Piece IV often features many march-like tunes every year... |
| 28 | To the Sea… for Wind BandMisawa Kei | play_arrow | I get a vibe like the eeriness of the ocean at night... |
| 29 | March ‘Memories Refrain’Itō Shion | play_arrow | A modern march notable for its key changes and instrumental call-and-response |
| 30 | Yamagata Fantasy: for Wind EnsembleSugiura Kunihiro | play_arrow | Known as a composer and also as a percussionist… |
| 31 | Prelude to the Music FestivalAlfred Reed | play_arrow | The piece selected as the compulsory work in 1970 was Ameri… |
| 32 | AyersTajima Tsutomu | play_arrow | The piece “Air” possesses a majestic yet deeply moving appeal. |
| 33 | March “April Leaf”Kondō Yūsuke | play_arrow | The piece selected as the 2019 compulsory work No. 2 was by Kami… |
| 34 | March Shining RoadKiuchi Ryo | play_arrow | Brilliant brass instruments that evoke a bright future... |
| 35 | Memories of Sorrow — for Wind Ensemblemaekawa tamotsu | play_arrow | From the high school division and up, the difficulty is relatively high for Set Piece V, and... |
| 36 | March “Best Friend”Matsuura Shingo | play_arrow | Walking arm in arm with friends and companions… |
| 37 | Path of the Pegasus ~ for Wind Band (2008 Contest Piece IV)Kataoka Hiroaki | play_arrow | A wind ensemble piece that depicts the story of Pegasus |
| 38 | Prelude for a Mythical Legend, 2006 Required Piece (I)Horiuchi Toshio | play_arrow | Toshio Horiuchi’s grand, dramatic wind ensemble work |


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