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Wonderful wind ensemble

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